Rape Case Withdrawal: Lagos State To Go Ahead With Case

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The Lagos State Government has indicated that it will go ahead with the case of alleged rape involving two Babcock University dropouts, Don-Chima George, 25, and Olusegun Rasak, 28, in spite of a letter of withdrawal by the complainant in the case, as it was resolute to bring the two defendants to face justice.

The two friends are facing trial before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly drugging and raping a 24-year-old woman at a hotel in Lekki Phase One, Lekki, Lagos.

During previous court proceedings on June 13, the complainant, through a letter of withdrawal, dated June 3, 2019, informed the court that she wanted the criminal case against the defendants withdrawn. She said the reason for her intention to withdraw the case was due to “intervention of family members and for the sake of her integrity”.

However, at the start of proceedings on Tuesday, Mr. Akin George, a Deputy Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that Lagos State would continue the prosecution of the defendants.

“At the last adjourned date, my Lord said that the state should get feedback from the Ministry of Justice on how to proceed with this case.
The instruction from the Solicitor-General and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice is that we should go ahead with the prosecution.”

“The witness is already in the box and she should continue with her evidence” Mr. Akin George said.

P.M.EXPRESS had earlier reported how the defendants, Don-Chima George and Olusegun Rasak, allegedly took the victim to Delankaster Hotels at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. They reportedly took her to a night club on the said day and while there they allegedly spiked her drink with a substance which rendered her unconscious. They allegedly raped her in turns while videotaping the sexual offence.

According to the prosecution, the offences contravened Sections 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and the Lagos State Government is insisting on continuing with the case in order to ensure justice and have it serve as deterrent to others who might want to try such in the future.