How I was raped, defrauded by brothers -Unilag graduate recount ordeal in court

A 22-year-old lady (name withheld), on Monday narrated before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja how she was raped and defrauded by two brothers, Bright Nwachukwu and Chijindu Nwachukwu.

The brothers, Bright (31),and Chijindu (23) were both standing trial before Justice Josephine Oyefeso on two countries charge of rape and obtaining money by false pretense, an offense contrary to the Criminal law of Lagos state.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mrs. C.K Tunji-Carrena, the Education Biology graduate and an entrepreneur, told the court that she met the 1st defendant, Bright on her to way to the University of Lagos where she had just graduated to sort out a medical registration on February 12, 2017 at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos. She said she has never met him prior to that day.

The witness said the defendant approached her in French language and asked her for an address of one Diamond warehouse to which she told him she did not know.
She also noted that there was a man beside Bright who asked her to describe the place to him if she knew there.
She however left the two men at the spot and checked her time after the conversation only for her to realize that she could not meet up with her appointment and decided to return home.

According to the witness, she met with the 1st defendant and the other man again on her way home and he asked the same question and she maintained she did not know the place.

“I wanted to be on my way but the other man that was with him pleaded with me to help him and the man, Bright handed him some foreign currencies and he held my hand that we should follow him.

“At that moment, I didn’t know what I was doing again, I just followed them and we crossed to the other side of the road at Iyana-Ipaja and boarded a bus towards Sango. I paid the transport fare for the three of us and we later alighted at a bus-stop which I dint know the name.

“We took a tricycle to another place where we met the second defendant, Chijindu, who disguised as a store-keeper. He later brought out something that looked like a photo-film and washed it in a liquid and it turned into a N1000 note. He folded the money and asked me to take a bite and took an oath that if I tell anyone of what is going to take place, I would die,” she said.

She further told the court that the 2nd defendant, Chijindu, told her to bring some money so that they can print more money but she did not have cash on her, and he collected her ATM card and headed to the bank.

While, they were away, the witness, who was left with the 1st defendant said, he asked her if she eats fish and she replied in the affirmative and he told her that she will die as the result of the oath she earlier had with him.
“I became so scared and I started crying and I pleaded with him that I don’t want to die. Bright then told me that the only option to avoid death is to have sex with me. I started begging him again not to have sex with me but he eventually had his way.

“When Chijindu came from where he had gone to withdrew the N19,000 that I had in my First Bank account, he ordered me to delete the alert message sent by my bank. He also came back with another man who claimed to be a pastor.
“He brought in a bucket of water and after looking through it, he said my mother has some money in her drawer and I should go home and bring it whole he instructed me not to talk to anyone until I accomplished the mission.”

The witness said she caught glimpse of a sign post. Toluwalase, put it to heart. She also told the court that when she got home, she met her mother and her brother who later told her that she was acting strange and restless.
“My mother later came to me and held me, seeking to know what happened to me and I told her I don’t want to die. She was shocked and we were both crying. She told me that God is the owner of my life and I came back to my senses and told her all that happened.”

She further told the court that her mother put a call through to her pastor and she was later taken to the family hospital due to the sexual assault and was later referred to St Leo Hospital in Ikeja.
She also said the matter was reported at Area G Police Station in Ogba and she was referred to Mirabel Hospital for check- up and counseling.

During cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Ikenna Okoli, the witness maintained that she gave her ATM to the 2nd defendant and money was withdrawn from her First Bank account.

She also insisted that the 1st defendant had sex with her without her consent.

The matter was thereafter adjourned till October 10, 2017 for continuation of trial.