An Akure Chief Magistrates Court on Friday remanded an ex-soldier, Sunday Awolola, in prison custody for allegedly raping a student (name withheld) of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Akungba Akoko.
Awolola, 33, a dismissed soldier attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Akure, had earlier appeared on Wednesday for allegedly raping the student at a military checkpoint along Ikare Akoko-Akungba Akoko road on July 31, 2019.
After the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of rape, Magistrate Mayowa Olanipekun remanded him pending a response to the application seeking his remand in prison custody before the case would commence.
On Friday, the prosecutor, Mr Adeoye Adesegun, told the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), praying that the suspect should be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice.
However, counsel to the defendant, Mr Kayode Ikotun, asked the court to grant him bail due to his ill health, a condition that could worsen his status in prison.
Magistrate Olanipekun granted the application of the prosecutor and ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison pending DPP’s advice.
He adjourned the case till 15th November, 2019.