P.M.EXPRESS reports that the teenagers were Matthew Omotayo, 17,Mojeeb Solomon,16 Olamilekan Adefuye, 18 ; Damilola Ismail, 19 Emmanuel George, 17 Aborisade Paul Ayomide,17, Paul Chukwuchebe,19 and Lateef Adeoye, 16.
They have been charged for conspiracy, sexual abuse, unlawful sexual intercourse, exploitation and assault of a 14-year old girl on Friday, 15th November, 2024.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Dyke Ogbonnaya, stated that the offence of the eight suspects contravened Sections 32 and 33 of the Child Rights Law of Ogun State 2006 for allegedly assaulting and gang raping a minor while also filming same in a permanent form for possible blackmail.
They allegedly took the said teenager without her consent to a secluded room and had violent sexual intercourse with her while putting the same event in a video form.
According to the victim, she was sexually abused the first time and was recorded and the alleged suspects threatened to upload the video on social media if she does not allow them have her again, which she also consented to until her resolve to report the matter to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Divisional Office at Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State.
According to the image maker, in her narration, this step to report the matter was necessitated by several verbal, physical abuses and beatings which the gang subjected her.
The operatives moved into action and two of the suspects were arrested while the arrested suspects led the Civil Defence Office to the trail and arrest of the remaining six suspects through intelligence and tactfulness of the divisional officers.
He stated that the victim was made to undergo a medical procedure at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at the Olabisi Onabajo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, after the mother of the assaulted teenager gave her consent for same.
After the preliminary investigations and other evidences and facts to the matter have been ascertained by the Ijebu-Mushin Divisional Headquarters, the divisional officer transferred the matter to the State Headquarters, Abeokuta.
The State Commandant, Commandant Remilekun Omolade Ekundayo, ordered immediate re-examination and thorough investigation of the matter by the intelligence department of the Command.
The results of the investigation culminated into the application for a remand order by the State Command’s legal officer through the magistrate court in Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State.
Upon the presentation of the matter by the prosecution counsel with several evidences, the Court ordered a 60-day remand of the eight suspects after which the directives of the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the matter should have been out.
The Presiding Magistrate, Hon. Sotayo, granted the prayer of the Civil Defence legal officer to remand the suspects pending the outcome of the advice from the DPP and he thereafter adjourned the matter to 20th January, 2025, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
