An Ikeja Sexual and Domestic Violence Offences Court on Thursday heard how a construction worker, Emmanuel John, allegedly raped a 39-year-old woman in an uncompleted building.
A police sergeant, Olakunle Orebe told the court that John allegedly raped the woman, who was hawking beans and yam (also known as ewa agoyin), on June 20, 2017 at No 14 Akins Addo Road, Ajah.
Orebe, attached to the Gender Unit at the Ikeja police command, said that the victim, a Togolese, was alleged raped by John and his friend, one Obinna (now at large), at about 11:45 am on that fateful day.
The 34-year-old construction worker, who has been in prison custody since 2017, is standing trial on a lone count charge of rape before Justice Sybil Nwaka.
Led in evidence by the State prosecuting counsel, B.T. Boye, Sgt. Orebe said that the defendant and the case file was transferred to him from Langbasa Police Station, Ajah on June 23, 2017.
Orebe told the court he visited the crime scene and also interviewed the survivor.
“The survivor told me that she was hawking her usual food items when one man (Obinna) came and called her, on the pretence of buying beans and yam.
“The victim narrated that the defendant asked her to come and sell to his friend, John,(the defendant), who was already waiting inside the uncompleted building.
“She said that she quickly followed behind him to the uncompleted building and met his friend. But instead of requesting for food, they ordered her to remove her clothes. The defendant forcefully removed her clothes, held her hands while his friend had sexual intercourse with her.
“The victim told me that the defendant thereafter took turns with his friend, Obinna, to rape her.”
During cross examination by the defence counsel, Akinyemi Adetunyi, the police officer said that the defendant made a confessional statement at the station admitting that he had sexual intercourse with the victim.
In his confessional statement, John stated that he had sexual intercourse with the woman on an agreement of paying her N500.
Justice Nwaka adjourned the matter till October 9.
