The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 32-year-old man, Musa Ismail, for allegedly raping his neigbour and dispossessing her of property worth N91, 500.
Ismail who lived on Kadiri Street, in the Oniwaya, Agege area of the state, and his accomplices, Saheed Lawal, Wasiu Ajanaku and Tayo Inawole who resided in the same residence as the victim on Okunola Street, near Kadiri Street, gained access to the victim’s apartment at about 2am on December 26.
The robbers had converged by the woman’s window earlier in the evening of the said day, smoking cannabis.
She was said to have condemned the act and sent the smokers away, warning them not to gather there again. They were reportedly angered by the alleged insult and vowed to deal with her.
They reportedly robbed her of three phones valued at N43, 500 and a cash sum of N48, 000, after breaking her window through which they allegedly gained access into her apartment.
After the robbery operation, Ismail allegdly brought out a knife and ordered the unidentified victim, said to be in her mid-20’s, to lie down. He was said to have raped her before he fled the building with his gang.
According to reports, the victim was able to identify Ismail during the robbery and reported the incident at the Dopemu Police Division, which led to the suspects’ arrest, Punch reports.
Meanwhile, the suspects have been arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court on three counts bordering on burglary and stealing.
Ismail, in addition to the counts, was charged with rape.
The charges read in part, “That you, Musa Ismail, Saheed Lawal, Wasiu Ajanaku and Tayo Inawole, on December 26, 2015, at about 2am on Okunola Street, Oniwaya, Agege, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did break into the room of one Joy and stole one BlackBerry phone valued at N25,000, a Techno handset worth N15,000, one Nokia phone valued at N3,500 and a cash sum of N48,000.”
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The magistrate, Mrs. T. Akanni, admitted Ajanaku, Inawole and Lawal to bail in the sum of N200, 000, while Ismail was granted bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.
Akanni adjourned the case till January 25, 2016 for trial.
