By Onozure Dania

Lagos—A traditional ruler at Odo- Onosa Village in Lagos State, Chief Jimoh Balogun, and two others were yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere over alleged armed robbery and rape.

The other defendants, including Morufu Adekoya and Adefowope Kazeem, are standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and rape preferred against them by Lagos State.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them when the charge was read.

The defendants and others still at large, who were docked before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, were alleged to have  conspired to commit the alleged offence on March 26, 2014, at about 10:30am at Odo- Onsa, Epe, Lagos.

Lagos State prosecuting counsel, Babatunde Oguntemowo, told the court that the defendants, while armed with a gun and other offensive and dangerous weapons, robbed one Adeomi Ayomide of her wristwatches, three laptops and a cash sum of N272,000.

He said the defendants also robbed one Korede Fayibo of a Television set, one DVD player, unspecified amount of money and other valuables.

Oguntemowo also alleged that the defendants raped one Adeomi Ayomide after robbing her of all her valuables  on the said date.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are contrary and punishable under sections 297, 295 (2) (a) and 258 of the criminal law of Lagos state 2011.

The prosecutor further urged the court to adjourn the matter and remand the defendants in prisons custody, in view of their no guilty plea.

Counsel to the defendants, A. O Omodele, told the court that the defendants had a bail application dated on September 23, seeking the order of the court to grant bail to Adekoya and Kazeem, who are already at Ikoyi prisons custody,

The case had been adjourned till January 18 and February 2, 2016,