Ten persons were on Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in connection with the torture of three women accused of stealing pepper at Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo, on Feb.11, 2013. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, on a 19-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, s3xual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty. The defendants include the market leader, Isiaka Waidi, Buhari Yusuf, Abdullahi Haruna and Saheed Adisa. Others are Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Adekunle Adenuga and Oloruntoyin Dauda. Mrs. Idowu Alakija, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the defendants had tortured the trio of Nike Salami, Juliana and Joke Agomo, for the alleged theft of pepper at the market. As stated by Alakija, the women were beaten up, stripped naked, and pepper was rubbed over their bodies by the suspects who are members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). The defendants were also alleged to have inserted sticks and obnoxious substances into the women’s private parts, while the incident was recorded with a mobile phone. They were also accused of obtaining the sum of N50, 000 from one Fima Agomo, who is a relative to the victims by claiming that the money would be used to repay the traders whose pepper had been stolen. Alakija stated that their offences contravene Sections 44, 127 (1) 171,228 (2), 241,243, 259, 270, 312, 408 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. However, when the charge was read to the defendants before the court, they pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered them to be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications fixed for May 21.
