Man, 29, docked for kidnap, rape

LAGOS — A 29-year-old man, Jamiu Lawal, was yesterday, arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos, for kidnapping and allegedly raping a 20-year-old lady.
The accused, who was brought into the court by police from Denton Police Station, Oyingbo, was said to have conspired with others at large to kidnap the victim by taking her to an unknown destination where they raped her severally.
The accused was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, manner likely to cause breach of the peace and having unlawful canal knowledge of the victim, but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecutor, Mr. Etim Nkankuk, a Superintendent of Police, “Jamiu and others now at large had on March 17, 2013, at about 10.30 pm, kidnapped a 20-year-old lady (name withheld) to an unknown destination and raped her severally, an offence punishable under sections 409, 56 (1) and 258 of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2011.”
Counsel to the accused, Chief Saka Bello, applied for bail for the accused in the most liberal terms as the case is a bailable offence.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Aje Afuwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the case to April 24 and 29 for mention and trial.