A Magistrate Court in Ondo State has remanded two commercial motorcyclists—Tope Ademeso and Igbekele Akinsioye—in prison custody while the case unfolds. They are accused of raping a 17-year-old girl at their residence in the Continental area of Akure, the state capital.

The suspects were arrested by Amotekun, Ondo State’s security network, on August 6 and subsequently arraigned in court on a two-count charge that includes conspiracy and rape.

The charge alleges that on August 6, 2025, at around 10:00 a.m. in Continental Street, Akure, the defendants conspired to commit a felonious offense—rape—and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 516 of Ondo State’s Criminal Code. It further states that they intentionally penetrated the vagina of a 17-year-old girl, an act said to violate the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the court did not take their plea at this time.

Prosecution’s position: The prosecuting counsel, Mr. O.F. Akeredolu, urged the court to remand the suspects in a correctional facility pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Defense response: The defendants’ counsel, Godwin Bernard, countered the claims, arguing there was no crime committed and describing the matter as a dispute over payment related to consensual intercourse between the complainant and the defendants. Bernard requested that the court reject the prosecution’s application and grant bail under the most lenient conditions, asserting there was no basis for remand.

Ruling and next steps: Magistrate Damilola Sekoni adjourned the matter to September 1, 2025, to rule on the bail application. The court also ordered that the defendants be remanded in the correctional center until the ruling.

Context and what to watch for: The case hinges on the interpretation of consent, the details of the alleged encounter, and the evidence presented by both sides. As with many rape-related cases, the legal process will balance the rights of the accused with the need to protect the accuser’s privacy and safety.

If you’d like, I can tailor this rewrite to your blog’s style (more concise, more formal, or more narrative) and add a short explainer on how remand procedures work in Ondo State.