Two men accused of raping two minors appeared before a Jos Upper Area Court on Friday.
The duo – Shuaibu Musa , 17, and Bashiru Mohammed, 19, who allegedly raped two minors aged 13 and 16, were charged with criminal conspiracy and rape .
The police prosecutor, Mr E . A . Inegbenoise, told the court that Mr Bulus Badung of Dawul -Bob village in Vwang District in Jos South , reported the matter at the `A ’ Divisional Police Headquarters, On March 29.
Inegbenoise alleged that the accused persons , on the said date , accosted the victims at about 6pm on their way home and dragged them into a nearby bush .
He said that when the victims put up a resistance, the accused persons tied them up with ropes and raped them .
“ During police investigation , the accused persons confessed to committing the crime , ” he claimed .
The prosecutor added that the offences contravened sections 97 and 283 of the Penal Code and could attract punishment of up to 21 years imprisonment, upon conviction.
The accused persons , however , pleaded not guilty to the crime when the charges were read in court .
Counsel for the accused, Mr David Adudu , in a written application , prayed the court to grant his clients bail, quoting section 36( 5) of the 1999 constitution that presumed an accused person innocent until otherwise proven .
Adudu said that if the bail was granted, his clients would neither jump bail nor interfere with police investigation.
The judge , Mr Mustapha Yahaya, admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N 100, 000 each , and two sureties each in like sum.
Yahaya said that the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit , to the court , two recent passport- sized photographs and their national identity cards.
He adjourned hearing in the matter to May 18.
NAN
