A housewife, Uzoima Patrick has been charged along with her husband, Ezechima over the rape, by the husband of their 16 year old house keeper. The couple was arraigned today before the Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Ezechima, 42 and Uzoima, 37, who reside at 14 Iyajesha Street, Amikonle in Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, child defilement and rape. The prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused committed the offences between June 1 and June 4 at their residence. He alleged that the husband conspired with his wife to rape the teenage housekeeper.
Uzoima threatened to stab the girl with a knife to force her to cooperate with her husband, the prosecutor said. He said the offences contravened Sections 137, 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 258 stipulates life imprisonment for rape. The couple has denied the charge. In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Further hearing in the case was fixed for 22 September.
