Six students granted N6m bail for gang-rape

March 15, 2017 8:31 PM

Six students of Unilag have appeared before a Surulere Chief Magistrates' Court on charges bordering on conspiracy, rape, and sexual harassment.

University of Lagos

For the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl, six students of the University of Lagos have been granted bail in the sum of N6 million on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, by a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused identified as Simeon Omowole, 18; Randy Chukka, 17; Samuel Oyefara, 18; Peter Adeboyega, 17; Chuka Chukwu, 19; and Peace Nwakanma, 18 (a female), reportedly pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, rape, and sexual harassment, Premium Times reports.

The court heard that the offences were committed sometime in January at High-Rise, Unilag.

The prosecutor, Anthonia Osayande, alleged that the accused along with another accomplice who is still at large conspired and raped a 17-year-old fellow student whose name has been withheld.

Ms. Osayande disclosed that Ms. Nwakanma who is the only female among the accused persons was responsible for luring the victim to the place where she was raped.

“The six students sexually harassed the girl with video clips in order to intimidate her.

“They all had sexual intercourse with the 17-year-old without her consent,’’ she said.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 137, 140, 260 (2), 264 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (revised).

‎The accused were granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with two sureties in like sum by the Chief Magistrate, A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu.

‎Premium Times reports that Mrs. Ipaye-Nwachukwu ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the second surety should be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 14.

The Chief Magistrate also directed the sureties to provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

‎The case was to May 18 pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions.