Two University of Lagos (UNILAG) students on Thursday appeared before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged rape attempt on their course mate.
The suspects, 21-year-old Ikedi Okpanlanedu and 20-year-old Samuel Idongesit, pleaded not guilty to five-count charge of conspiracy, attempted rape, assault, impersonation and threatening violence.
Police prosecutor, Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the undergraduates invited the course mate, a makeup artiste, to a hotel room and attempted to rape her.
Olaluwoye said the defendants committed the offences at 4.40p.m. on April 1 at Peace Land Hotel, Folagoro, Lagos.
“My lord, they strangled her because she was calling for help. It was a hotel staff, Mr Ohaeri Godlove, who heard her screaming and called the hotel security.
“Okpanlanedu claimed to be an army personnel, and threatened to stab her with a knife he was holding, if she would not co-operate with them.
“The knife was recovered from the crime scene, and we intend to tender it in evidence,” Olaluwoye said.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 411, 262, 170 (1), 380 and 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
Chief Magistrate Peter Ojo granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
Mr Ojo also directed that the sureties must be gainfully employed and possess evidence of three years’ tax payment to Lagos State Government.
He later adjourned the case until June 26 for mention.
