Four boys, three of them teenagers, were on Wednesday in Lagos remanded in prison custody over an alleged gang -rape of their 14-year-old neighbour.
The accused persons – Femi Olatunji, 18; Rasheed Oyekanmi, 18; Habeeb Oladele, 18 and John Alade, 20; are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, child defilement and rape before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
Although they all pleaded not guilty to the charges, the magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison following their confessions during arraignment. The magistrate ordered that the matter be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and adjourned the case to April 7 for trial.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Simon Imhonwa, had told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on Jan. 11 at their No. 16, Ige Avenue, Bariga, Lagos State residence. Imhonwa said the first accused lured their victim into his room where she was gang-raped.
“As soon as she entered the room, the first accused overpowered her, tied her hands and began having sexual intercourse with her. “The second, third and fourth accused persons, also came into the room and took turns in raping the minor,” Imhonwa said.