Six students of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, accused of raping a female colleague have been denied bail by a Magistrate Court in the ancient town, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.
The students – Akeem Abee, 17, Olaiya Faruq, 16, Kazeem Awal, 16, Ajao Waris, 17, Alamu Boluwatife, 17, and Dauda Mubarak, 17, are facing trial for conspiracy and rape.
According to NAN, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran, said the court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case. “We all have powers; the issue of their age range of between 16 and 17 years is very important,” he said.
“If we have a very good correctional centre for minors where they can be corrected, they would have been held there.
“Even though the defendants are minors, they are to be remanded at Agugu Police Station pending receipt of legal advice from the Oyo State Directorate of Public Prosecution,” he said.
He thereafter adjourned the matter till December 13 for mention.
Earlier, Mrs Christy Gbadeyanka, the defence counsel, had asked the court to take the pleas of the defendants and grant them bail, citing some precedents.
She argued that defendants were minors and keeping them with criminals would affect them negatively. Gbadeyanka said the defendants had learnt their lesson while in the police custody.
She added that the defendants would not jump bail if released to reliable sureties, adding that the sureties would ensure they were available for their trial.
She also submitted that the defendants were first time offenders and had no previous criminal records.
At the arraignment of the students, the Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi, had alleged that the defendants on November 17, 2019 at 6.00pm at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, had unlawful carnal knowledge of one female student.
He said that the offence contravened Sections 516 and 485 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
This is a big shame to their parents and the entire nation that do not put stringent rules and regulations in place.