By Sade Adewale, Ondo
|
Two siblings,  Erick Akintunde, 25 and Iyanuoluwa Akintunde, 20, were on Wednesday dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, for allegedly cohabiting with a girl (names withheld) without her father’s  consent.

Also arraigned alongside the brothers were a 80-year-old herbalist, Awoniyi Akinbebije and  two others, Peter Adediwura, 19 and Olasunkanmi Akinwale, 21.

They are all facing three  counts charge of conspiracy and conducting themselves in a manner to breach of peace in the month of August and September at number 16, New Town street, Oke-Igbala, Ondo.

The prosecution said Erick and Iyanuoluwa allowed the girl to stay in their house without the consent of her father and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Thereafter, the brothers were said to have  conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by taking the girl to the house of an herbalist, Akinbebije, at No 37, Aseyori street, Ayeyemi, Ondo.

Akinbebije, the herbalist was alleged to have ordered the girl (names withheld) to bring N7,500.00 for rituals against her father, Oluwa Kehinde Felix and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section  249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The police prosecutor, Sergent Gbenga Akinsuliere, who told the court that he would be calling three witnesses to testify in the case, applied for a date to enable him study the case file.

Narrating the facts of the case before the court, the  Investigating Police Officer (IPO),  Sgt Foluke Akinfolarin, said the first and second accused persons, Erick and Iyanuoluwa, who are from the same father and mother, were having affairs with a 16-year-old girl (names withheld).

Her words,” The girl happens to the younger brother’s girlfriend. The  elder brother is having secret affair with the girl without the consent of his brother. He even took the girl to an herbalist to charm her father, so that he would  not be beating her again.

“The girl had concluded in her mind to live with the two brothers,  Erick and Iyanuoluwa, as her husbands and not to stay in her parents house anymore.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr D.D Adejumola, applied for their bail  in most liberal terms.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Odenusi Fadeyi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50,000.00 with one surety each in like sum.

She adjourned the case till January 14, 2019 for trial.