Five men on Tuesday appeared before the newly inaugurated Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, for allegedly using social media to lure, kidnap and rape two women in Lagos.
The accused are Gabriel Obinna, 20, Nnadozie Akabueze, 21, Hector Ugochukwu, 32, Chinedu Ezechukwu, 21 and Godwin Balogun.
They are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and rape.
They denied the charges after plea of the men were taken.
The prosecutor, Mrs O. Akinsete, requested that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
“We humbly apply for a date to come for trial and that the defendants be remanded in custody,’’ the prosecutor said.
Akinsete said the defendants committed the offences at 4.30 p.m. at the Happy Hour Hotel, Agege, Lagos, on July 25, 2016.
“The defendants posed as a female called Vanessa on social media platforms like instagram and tinder.
“They befriended and lured the two complainants (names withheld) to the hotel on two different occasions.
“When the women arrived the hotel instead of meeting their ‘friend’ Vanessa, they encountered the five defendants who were lying in wait.
“The complainants in their similar experiences were beaten, gang-raped by the men and forced to call family and friends to send money for their release,’’ she said.
The prosecution said the offences violated Sections 260(1), 271(3) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011.
The presiding judge, Justice Sybil Nwaka ordered that the alleged gang-rapists be remanded at the Kirikiri Prison.
She however, adjourned the case until Feb. 15 for trial. (NAN)