The Ondo State Magistrate Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, has remanded two men,Tope Ademeso and Igbekele Akinsioye, in prison custody for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.
The duo, who were commercial motorcyclists, were arrested by the men of the state security network agency, also known as Amotekun, for allegedly committing the offence at his residence located at the Continental area of Akure, two weeks ago.
They were arraigned before the court on two counts of conspiracy and rape.
The charge read, “That you, Tope Ademeso and Igbekele Akinsioye, on or about August 6, 2025, at about 10:00, at Continental Street, Akure, Akure South Local Government area of Ondo State, did conspire together to commit a felonious offence, rape, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“Furthermore, that you, Tope Ademeso and Igbekele Akinsioye, on the same date and time, did intentionally penetrate the vagina of a 17-year-old girl, (name withheld), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 3 (1) and punishable under Section 3 (2)(c) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the court did not take their plea.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr O.F. Akeredolu, urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
On the other hand, the defendants’ counsel, Godwin Bernard, argued that the defendants did not commit the alleged crime, claiming it was a matter of a payment dispute following consensual intercourse between the defendants and the complainant.
Bernard urged the court to refuse the prosecution’s application and grant bail to the defendants under the most lenient conditions, stating that there was no reason for their remand.
In his ruling, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni adjourned the case to September 1, 2025, for ruling on the bail application and ordered the remand of the defendants at the correctional centre.
Credit: punchng.com
