From: Romanus Okoye
The trial of 10 suspects, who allegedly tortured, sodomised and attempted to murder three females (two sisters and their mother) for allegedly stealing pepper at the Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo area, Lagos State was, on Monday, adjourned till April 6 and 11, 2017 due to the absence of defense witness.
The 10 defendants were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Ikeja High Court on a 19-count charge of unlawful assembly, trial by ordeal, assault causing grievous harm, maliciously administering poison, deprivation of liberty, conspiracy to commit felony, attempted murder, sexual assault by penetration, obtaining money by false pretense and neglect to prevent a felony.
The defendants were alleged to have inserted a stick into the private parts of Ajoke Juliana Agomo and Nike Salami; stripped them naked, beat and rubbed pepper all over their body.
The defendants include Abdullahi Haruna, 20; Buhari Yusuf, 22; Saheed Adisa, 29; Azeez Akinosun, 36; Lateef Tijani, 37; Adekunle Adenuga, 38; Oloruntoyin Dauda, 46; Jimoh Busari, 50; Isiaka Waidi, 61; and Ahmed Adisa, 65.
According to the charge sheet, Lateef Tijani and Isiaka Waidi also attempted to defraud one Fima Agomo with the sum of N50, 000 under the pretext that the money would be used to pacify the traders whose pepper had been stolen.