Ondo man remanded over alleged rape of 18-year-old ponmo hawker
By Boye Oyeyemi
An Akure Magistrate’s Court has ordered that a 20-year-old man, Samson Okegbua, be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre over the alleged rape of an 18-year-old hawker.
The defendant was arraigned on a charge of rape under Section 3(a), (b), and (c) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020.
The prosecutor, ASP A. Jejeniwa, told the court that Okegbua allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim on June 11, 2026, at about 2:30pm, at Ijagba community in Ifon, within the court’s jurisdiction.
Jejeniwa asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.
Narrating her ordeal before the court, the victim, whose identity was protected, said she sells herbal medicine and ponmo within the community. She told the court that on the day of the incident, Okegbua and an accomplice identified only as Junior, who is still at large, called her over and asked to buy ponmo worth ₦200.
The victim said after handing over the ponmo, the two men claimed they had no cash and that Junior left to withdraw money from a Point of Sale operator, only to return claiming the network was down. She said the duo then convinced her to follow them to their house to collect her payment.
According to her, on getting to the house, Okegbua and his accomplice held her down, covered her mouth to stop her from screaming, and raped her.
Ruling, the magistrate adjourned the case for further hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre pending legal advice from the DPP.
