Orphanage Rape: Director Remanded In Prison

The Director of Light of Hope Orphanage, Mr. Omotayo Atunde, was on Friday remanded at the Ibarra Prison after his arraignment at the Ota Magistrate’s Court.

The arraignment followed weeks of investigation after Atunde was accused of rape by two minors staying in the orphanage. He was subsequently arrested by the police from Zone 2 Command, Onikan.

The first count read, “That you, Omotayo Atunde, between sometime in the year 2005 and on April 3, 2013, at No 2, Tunde Sebanjo Crescent, off Alagbole-Akute Road, Akute in the Ogun Magisterial District, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of ‘complainant’ aged about 13 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 218 of the Criminal Code, Revised Law of Ogun State of Nigeria 2006.”
No plea was taken after the charge was read.
Atunde’s wife, driver and a mother of one of the minors were in court.
Also in court and holding a watching brief for Project Alert, a Non-Governmental Organisation on Violence against Women, was Mr. Courage Erheun.
Counsel for the defendant, Mr. A.P. Isaiah, asked the court to grant Atunde bail on reasonable terms. However, the magistrate, Mr. A. S. Soneye, rejected the bail application.
“Bail is denied and the defendant is to be remanded in prison custody pending an advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution. Case is adjourned till May 30, 2013,” Soneye said.