The Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos is currently hearing the case of two Chinese citizens, Chen Gang, 47 and Zhao Weidong, 31, who allegedly attempted to rape Oluchi Chukwuemeka, a 20-year-old lady.
Gang and Weidong are employees of a popular Chinese construction firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Railway Compound in the Ebute Meta area of Lagos where they were said to have conspired to have carnal knowledge of the young lady without her consent.
It was gathered that on September 15, 2013, Chen Gang, the chief cook at CCECC masterminded the plan to rape his assistant Chukwuemeka after several sexual advances were turned down by the young lady.
The charge on both men read in part, “That you, Chen Gang, on the 15th day of September, 2013, at about 8pm at China Civil Engineering Constructing Company, Federal Road, Railway Compound, Ebute Meta, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did attempt to rape one Oluchi Chukwuemeka.
“That you, Chen Gang, on the same date, place and time, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did sexually harassed one Oluchi Chukwuemeka by struggling with her in an attempt to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
“That you, Zhao Weidong, on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did willfully destroy a Nokia-200 handset by throwing it into the toilet, property of one Oluchi Chukwuemeka.”
Chukwuemeka was said to have reported the case to the policemen stationed at the company’s premises.
It was also learnt that Chukwuemeka was allegedly lured into the store by the defendant, Gang who immediately attempted to rape her.
He allegedly locked the door and began to forcefully unbutton the 20-year-old dress and pull down her trousers.
Chukwuemeka’s outcry was reported to have alerted the policemen and other people around while the second defendant, Weidong, reportedly rushed to the store and seized the lady’s phone which was he attempted to dump in the toilet.
One of the policemen, however, ran after him and recovered the phone in the water closet.
Both men are now being prosecuted on seven counts of attempted rape, sexual harassment, indecent assault, perversion of justice and willful damage of Chukwuemeka’s handset.
The defendants have been kept in police custody pending the judgment of the court.
The prosecutor, Inspector Moses Uaedmuvbo, pointed out that the duo’s offences were punishable under Sections 260, 262, 134(2), 170, 91, 97, 348 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
But the defence counsel, Fidelis Osordi, pleaded that the accused be granted bail in liberal terms.
The magistrate, Mrs. M.O Tanimola, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two responsible sureties who must be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment and the case was adjourned till October 17.