BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 35-year-old-man named Taofeek Ibrahim Lawal has been dragged before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly abducting a young lady, confining her in his apartment and raping her for days.
The aggrieved parents of the 17-year-old-girl were said to have reported Lawal, an alleged thug, popularly known as ‘Eyin Gold,’ at the Dugbe Police Station in Osogbo, accusing him of forcing their daughter to marry him.
According to the victim’s mother, Taiwo Atayero, the suspect stormed their residence at Omobolanle area, Ofatedo, Osogbo, with cutlass and knife and threatened to kill the parents if they failed to release Oyinkansola, their daughter, to him.
The suspect allegedly took her to his house forcefully and detained her for days during which period he sexually molested her.
The police told the court that Lawal, sometime in 2021 at Orisunbare Shopping Complex, MDS area, Osogbo, abducted Oyinkansola and had carnal knowledge of her without her consent.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, alleged that the defendant did threaten to kill Oyinkansola, said to be aged 17, with cutlass if she disagreed to allow him to have his way with her.
The charge against him partly read that “You, Lawal Ibrahim Taofeek, sometime in the year 2021 in Osogbo, did abduct one Atayero Oyinkansola with intent to marry her without her consent and detained her in your rented house. You threatened to kill one Atayero Taiwo with cutlass if she reported your conduct to the police after forcefully taking her daughter, one Atayero Oyinkansola, from her custody.
“You (Lawal) did arm yourself with cutlass and knife without lawful occasion and caused terror to the people. Sometimes in the month of February, 2022 at about 12:30am, at Omobolanle area, Ofatedo, Osogbo, you did threatened to break into the dwelling house of Atayero Taiwo and kill her entire family members if she failed to open the door for you and disallow you to carry her daughter, one Atayero Oyinkansola to your house.”
The police also accused Lawal of being in possession of Indian hemp known as cannabis sativa, alleging that “Lawal Ibrahim Taofeek, at the same time and place, did sell and smoke Indian hemp known as cannabis sativa which you know to be unfit for human consumption.
“You did conduct yourself in a manner to cause breach of peace as you armed yourself with a cutlass, knife and one pink red cap with inscription ‘Secret Cult Logo’ and started terrorising people around.”
The defendant allegedly committed the offences contrary to and punishable under sections 225, 224(1), 361, 360(b), 80, 430, 243, 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun, 2002.
However, Lawal pleaded not guilty to the nine-count-charge. The defence counsel, Kehinde Adepoju, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on light terms.
Magistrate M. A. Olatunji asked the counsel to approach the court with a formal bail application.
She ordered that Lawal be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till June 6 for hearing.
