Two teenagers, Victor Ibeh and Tony Ezelioha, who allegedly gang-r*ped a 19- year-old girl, were on Monday in Lagos released after each had bailed themselves with N450,000.
An Ikeja Magistrates' Court that gave the ruling also asked the accused to provide two sureties each as part of their bail conditions.
Magistrate Alexander Komolafe said one of the sureties must be a religious leader in Lagos State, while the other surety should own a property within the court's jurisdiction. He said the sureties must also show evidence of three years' tax payment to the Lagos State Governmen.
Ezelioha, 19, and Ibeh, 18, both of whom reside in Ayobo near Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State, are facing a three-count charge bordering on assault and rape. Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ajebe, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 27, at about 3.00 p.m. at No. 12A, Fadairo St., Ayobo.
He said the complainant (names withheld) and Ibeh had been friends on the Facebook for two years, so he decided to invite her to pay him a visit.
Ajebe alleged that when the complainant got to the accused house and realized what he and his accomplice wanted to do, she ran out but the accused dragged her inside and raped her.
"The accused raped her several times through the anus and later dumped her in the street when they were through,'' he said.
Ajebe said the accused were arrested by the police after the complainant had identified them. The offences contravened Sections 137, 259 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 259 prescribes life imprisonment for offenders.
The case was adjourned until May 17 for mention.
-NAN
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