MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Gender Section of the Lagos State Command have arrested and charged two teenagers, Emmanuel Obi, 17 and Okechukwu Chosen, 17, for allegedly gang-raping a 14-year old girl, recording the action and sending the video to friends to watch at school.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 3rd May, 2024 at Ademola Bashiru Street, Isheri Oshun area of Lagos, where the victim visited her classmate, Chiwendu Obi, who is a sister to one of the suspects, Emmanuel, to collect notebook.
The matter was initially reported to the Police at Isheri Oshun Division, which drew the attention of the human rights group known as AMPEF led by Comrade Prince Saviour Ichie, who moved into action in order to ensure that the victim gets justice.
According to the Police, the victim went to her classmate’s house to collect notebook to copy an assignment when Emmanuel and his friend, Chosen, locked the door from inside, forcefully had sex with her and recorded their action, which they later leaked to their friends in the school.
The matter was transferred to the Gender Section for further investigation and during the interrogation, the Police found the duo culpable for the alleged offence. They were consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The Court did not take their plea when they were arraigned after the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date and refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the seriousness of the alleged offence.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered the defendants to be remanded in a remand home pending advice from the DPP advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.