A former aide to the Kwara State governor and local government chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 council elections, Comrade Musbaudeen Esinrogunjo, was on Wednesday arraigned before a State High Court over the alleged rape of a minor.

The defendant was brought before the court for allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with one Aishat Kamardeen, a 15-year-old girl.

The case, which came up for arraignment before Justice Funso Dada Lawal, witnessed a brief legal tussle as the defense counsel, Joseph Bamgboye (SAN), initially opposed the arraignment before the court intervened. Consequently, the defendant's plea was not taken immediately.

Leading the prosecution, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Ayoola Akande, urged the court to proceed with a proper arraignment of the accused.

However, Bamgboye (SAN) challenged the competency of the arraignment.

Akande told the court, "The matter is for arraignment. We humbly apply that the charge be read to the defendant."

The one-count charge, bordering on rape and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, was subsequently read to the defendant, but his plea was again not taken.

The DPP argued that the accused "is already before the court and has not been granted bail."

In response, Bamgboye informed the court that the Department of State Services (DSS) had granted his client bail since July 2025.

"He has not breached the terms of the bail. He is not at large. There is still a bail on his neck," the defense counsel said.

Akande, however, countered, saying, "You cannot consider the issue of bail, either written or oral, until after proper arraignment."

Justice Lawal ruled that the arraignment should stand but deferred plea taking to the next adjourned date.

The court subsequently adjourned to November 13, 2025, "for hearing of the defendant's application and plea taking in accordance with Section 228 of the Kwara State Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA)."

Daily Trust reports that Esinrogunjo was dragged before the court following a petition submitted to the DSS by the Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC).