A 65-year-old man, Taye Michael, was yesterday remanded by an Ilorin Magistrate's Court for allegedly defiling two fellow church members.

The prosecuting officer, Sergeant Alhassan Jubril, told the court that the accused, a member of Wakati Iyanu Church, Obo Road, Ilorin, told the two women that he was a Kwara State Government health worker.

Michael was alleged to have separately invited them to his home, pretending to have a job for them.

According to the prosecutor, the accused confessed defiling the two women.

But he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jubril objected to his bail on the ground that the accused was a habitual rapist that had a similar case before the magistrate.

He said the court should  remand him in prison custody.

Counsel to the accused Mr. Tunji Ahmed pleaded with the court to release Michael  on bail “to enable me speak with him." 

Magistrate Ibijoke Olawoyin averred that the charge was not bailable and  remanded the accused in the Federal Prison, Oke-Kura, Ilorin.

She adjourned the case till April 25.

A 64-year-old retired broadcaster, Steven Sajewo, yesterday appeared before an Ilorin Chief Magistrate's Court for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.

He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Lekan Adegbite on a one-count charge of rape, which contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The accused was alleged to have had carnal knowledge of the victim, who was said to have hawked yam to the accused person's home at Oja Iya area of Ilorin.

According to the charge sheet, it was the shout of the victim that attracted  neighbours, who alerted the police.

The plea of the accused was not taken due to the nature of the offence, which the magistrate's court lacked jurisdiction to entertain.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Moshood Adebayo  objected to the bail of the accused on the ground that the offence was not bailable.

He asked for another day for mention, noting that discreet investigation was still in progress.

The accused person was not represented by any counsel.

The victim's father had shown interest in withdrawing the case, but the court asked him to bring a letter to that effect on the day of adjournment.

Magistrate Adegbite admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned till May 3 for further mention of the case.