A 24-year-old woman (names withheld), allegedly drugged at a nightclub and gang-raped in a hotel in Lekki, Lagos, by two dropouts of Babcock University, wants the criminal suit filed against the defendants withdrawn.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the complainant made her request for withdrawal of the case during proceedings at an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday, via a “Letter of Withdrawal” dated June 3.
In the letter, which was read in court by Justice Abiola Soladoye, the complainant attributed her decision to seek the withdrawal of the case to “intervention of family members” and for the sake of her integrity.
Mr Akin George, a Deputy-Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and lead state prosecutor, however, opposed the complainant’s request.
He noted that the complainant was in court for the continuation of her cross-examination by the defence.
“In every criminal matter, victims are naturally witnesses and as we speak, there is no AG in office due to the change in power,” George said.
Responding, defense counsel, Mr Tunji Ayanlaja (SAN), said while he shared the views of the prosecution that Lagos State originated the criminal suit, he disagreed that the absence of the AG had created a vacuum.
He also sought the release of the defendants, Don-Chima George and Olusegun Razak, from prison.
After listening to the submissions of the prosecution and defence, Justice Soladoye said the court would continue with proceedings, and that bail would not be granted to the defendants because the court had already delivered a ruling denying them bail.
“However, so that these proceedings will not be an exercise in futility, a short adjournment will be taken, pending directives from the office of the AG,” she said.
The case was adjourned to June 18 for continuation of trial.
NAN reports that on May 15, the complainant, while being led in evidence by Dr Jide Martins, a Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), narrated how she was given a spiked glass of Hennessey and Coca-Cola at Kabaal Night Club in Ikoyi, Lagos.
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