A 22-years-old graduate of the
University of Lagos, UniLag, has told an Ikeja High Court, Lagos State of how
she was lured, raped and defrauded by two brothers, identified as Bright
Nwachukwu and Chijindu Nwachukwu, earlier in the year.
The defendants, 31-year-old
Bright Nwachukwu, and Chijindu Nwachukwu, 23, are both standing trial before
Justice Josephine Oyefeso on a two-count charge of rape and obtaining money by
false pretence, brought against them by the Lagos State Government.
The prosecution said that the
offence contradicted the provision of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The two brothers pleaded not
guilty to the charges, when they were arraigned.
The victim, a graduate of the
Department of Biology Education, who was led in evidence before the court by
the prosecutor, Mrs C. K. Tunji-Carrena, explained that she met the first
defendant at Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos State, on her way to school on February
12.
She told the court, “I wanted to be on my way, but the other man that was with Bright pleaded with me to help him and Bright handed him some foreign currencies and he held my hand that we should follow him.
“At that moment, I didn’t know what I was doing again; I just followed them and we crossed to the other side of the road at Iyana-Ipaja and boarded a bus towards Sango.
“I paid the transport fare for the three of us and we later alighted at a bus stop, which I didn’t know.
“We took a tricycle to another place, where we met the second defendant, Chijindu, who disguised as a storekeeper.
“He later brought out something that looks like a photo-film and washed it in a liquid and it turned into a N1,000 note.
“He folded the money and asked me to take a bite in an oath that if I tell anyone of what is going to take place, I will die.
“I became so scared and I started crying and pleaded with him that I don’t want to die. Bright then told me that the only option to avoid death was to have sex with him. I started begging him again not to have sex with me, but he eventually had his way.
“When Chijindu came from where he had gone to withdraw the N19,000 that I had in my bank account, he ordered me to delete the alert message sent by my bank. He also came back with another man, who claimed to be a pastor.
“He brought in a bucket of water and after looking through it, he said my mother has some money in her drawer and I should go home and bring it, while he instructed me not to talk to anyone until I accomplished the mission.”
She also told the court that when
she got home, she met her mother and her brother, who later told her that she
was acting strange and restless.
She continued, “My mother later came to me and held me, seeking to know what happened to me and I told her I don’t want to die. She was shocked and we were both crying.
“She told me that God is the owner of my life and I came back to my senses and told her all that happened.”
The victim said the matter was reported
at Area ‘G’ Police Station in Ogba and she was also referred to another
hospital for check-up and counseling.
During cross-examination by the
defence counsel, Mr. Ikenna Okoli, the witness maintained that she gave her ATM
to the second defendant and money was withdrawn from her bank account. She also
insisted that the first defendant had sex with her without her consent.
The matter was, thereafter,
adjourned till October 10 for continuation of trial.
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Adjourning a case such as this for three months is the reason why our judiciary is a joke. This matter could be dispensed with in weeks. Another miscarriage of justice looming as Justice delayed is justice denied.
ReplyDeleteShe was hypnotized. Unfortunately, I was too many years ago. I believe this story 10000000%
ReplyDeleteThe verdict should be spelt out there and then, why adjourning the case. Ikpe kpere one ya. There are so many of then around LASU side. I would have been a victim on my way to school those days.
ReplyDeleteHere we are here again, they adjourned cases for long do that they could be approaches for settlement... That is just the gimmick
ReplyDelete*be approached
ReplyDelete