A man, Ezechima Patrick, and his wife, Uzoima, were on Wednesday charged before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged rape of their 16-year-old housekeeper.
Ezechima, 42 and Uzoima, 37, who reside at No.14, Iyajesha St., Amikonle in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, child defilement and rape.
The prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offences between June 1 and June 4 at their residence.
He alleged that the husband conspired with his wife to rape the teenage housekeeper.
“Patrick conspired with his wife to defile the 16-year-old girl. Uzoima had overpowered the girl for the husband to rape her.’’
According to Anyanwu, Uzoima threatened to stab her with a knife to force her to cooperate with her husband.
He said the offences contravened Sections 137, 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 258 stipulates life imprisonment for rape.
The couple, however, denied the charge.
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Further hearing in the case was fixed for Sept. 22.
