Police arraign three for kidnapping, raping UNILAG student...

Three men, Bashorun Babajide,  Aje Olumayowa, and Babajide Ajayi, have been arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrate's Court, Lagos State, for allegedly kidnapping and raping an undergraduate of the University of Lagos.

In the eight counts which the police preferred against the defendants, it was alleged that after raping the girl, the men also took snapshots of their victim and posted them on the Internet.

It was alleged that within a few days of the upload, the nude photographs went viral on social media, exposing Titiloye to ridicule and shame.

PUNCH Metro had reported in June, 2013 how the 22-year-old girl was abducted and raped at Ajose Street, on the Lagos Island.

The crime was said to have been uncovered and reported to the police after the attention of the family members of the victim was called to the pictures circulating online.

The police told the court on Thursday that Babajide, Mayowa and Ajayi also assaulted and attempted to murder their victim.

The police said the incident occurred in April, 2013.

The three accused persons were arraigned for kidnap, rape, assault, battery, unlawful detention and attempted murder.

The charge read in part, "That you, Bashorun Babajide, m, Aje Olumayowa, m and Babajide Ajayi, m,   on the 28th day of April 2013, at about 1930hrs at No 1, Ajose Street, Lagos Island in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to wit kidnap and rape.

"That you, Bashorun Babajide, m , Aje Olumayowa, m, and Babajide Ajayi, m, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did detain one Tolulope Titilayo,f, 22 years without her consent for the purpose of unlawful sexual intercourse.

"That you, Bashorun Babajide, m , Aje Olumayowa, m and Babajide Ajayi, m, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did unlawfully take the nude photograph of one Tolulope Titiloye,f, 22yrs, without her consent and posted same on the internet."

The prosecutor said the offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 409, 269, 144(1), 258, 135(2), 150(1)(2), 228, 56(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendants said they were not guilty of the charges.

It was reported that the complainant was not in court because she had not recovered from her ordeals in the hands of the culprits.

The magistrate, Mrs. S.K Matepo, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October 2.

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