By Abdulwahab Abdulah, Bartholomew Madukwe & Jane Echewodo

Lagos—The failure to produce the prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of ten persons charged in connection with the Ejigbo pepper sodomy, yesterday, stalled further proceeding in the case before an Ikeja High Court.

The development therefore forced Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye presiding over the case to adjourn to today and Tomorrow for the continuation of trial.

The matter is being prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. E.I. Alakija, for Lagos State Government.

Persons charged are Isiaka Waidi, 61; Saheed Adisa, 29; Lateef Tijani, 37; Ahmed Adisa, 65; Azeez Akinosun, 36; Jimoh Busari, 50; Adekunle Adenuga, 38; Oloruntoyin Dauda, 46; Buhari Yusuf, 22; and Abdullahi Haruna, 20.

The ten persons are accused of torture, attempted murder and sodomy of three females accused of stealing pepper at Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

In an amended charge, the defendants were accused to have inserted a stick into the private part of Nike Salami and Juliana Agomo at Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo.

They (defendants) were also accused of assaulting one Ajoke Agomo by stripping her naked, beating her up and rubbing pepper all over her body.

According to the charge, the 1st defendant (Waidi) and 5th defendant (Lateef) unlawfully obtained the sum of N50,000 from one Fima Agomo with intent to defraud by falsely pretending that the said money would be paid to traders in the market whose pepper had been stolen.

The defendants were arraigned before the court on a 19-count charge of unlawful assembly, trial by ordeal, assault occasioning harm, causing grievous harm, maliciously administering poison, deprivation of liberty, conspiracy to commit felony, attempted murder, sexual assault by penetration, obtaining money by false pretense and neglect to prevent a felony.

Though, they have pleaded not guilty to all the counts, while they were granted bail by the court.