Emmanuel John, A bricklayer, was on Friday arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping a 38-year-old food vendor.
John, 34, however, denied the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N200, 000.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Gbajumo, who gave the ruling, also told the accused to provide two sureties as part of the bail conditions.
According to Gbajumo, the sureties should be gainfully employed and also show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Mike Unah, said the accused, who pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and r*pe, committed the offences on June 20 at Addo in Ajah, near Lagos.
Unah alleged that the accused, who resides at Mashy Hill Estate in Ajah, conspired with another person now at large, to forcefully have carnal knowledge of the complainant.
Unah said that the complainant she was hawking cooked beans and yam when the accused called her and told her he wanted to buy beans.
The prosecutor said the accused convinced the victim to follow him to an uncompleted building where he claimed he was working, to collect money for the beans he bought.
He said the complainant, who had no idea that the accused was planning to r*pe her, followed him.
“The food vendor said that immediately she entered the building, John’s accomplice removed her wrapper and when she tried to scream, the man pushed her on the floor and held her hands, while John r*ped her.
“She also claimed that John’s accomplice also forcefully had carnal knowledge of her without her consent. The complainant said that they pushed her out of the building half-n*ked, after taking advantage of her.
“The food vendor said she was helped by a man, who saw her crying outside the uncompleted building. She said the man stormed into the building and caught John after she narrated her ordeal to the man.
“The complainant reported the case to the police and John was arrested while his accomplice is still at large,’’ Unah said.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 260 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 260 prescribes 14-year jail term upon conviction for rape.
The case was adjourned until Sept. 9 for mention.