10 persons who in February 2013 assaulted and tortured three women for stealing pepper at the Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo Area of Lagos State were on Tuesday arraigned by the State Government before a high court sitting in Ikeja.
The suspects standing trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, were arraigned on a 19-count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretenses and deprivation of liberty.
The accused persons include: the market leader, Isiaka Waidi, Buhari Yusuf, Abdullahi Haruna, Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani , Ahmed Adisa, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Adekunle Adenuga and Oloruntoyin Dauda.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, who represented the state government, told the court that the suspects assaulted their victims, Nike Salami, Juliana and Joke Agomo, for allegedly stealing pepper at the market.
She further alleged that the accused who are members of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, beat up the women severely, stripped them and pepper was rubbed on their bodies.
She also informed the court that the culprits inserted sticks into the women’s private part while the incident was recorded with a mobile phone.
The DPP also accused the suspects of collecting the sum of N50, 000 from one Fima Agomo, who is a relative to the victims, under the pretext of repaying the traders whose pepper has been stolen.
When the charges were read, all accused persons however pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ipaye consequently ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody until the hearing and determination of their bail applications which is fixed for May 21.
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