Rape: Osun doctor’s bail ruling set for tomorrow

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, has fixed tomorrow, September 11, 2024, for ruling on the bail application of medical doctor Shakiru Olayode, who is accused of raping a teenage girl.

The Guardian had reported that Olayode was arrested by the police in July after the family members of the 18-year-old girl reported the matter.

Since then, the medical doctor, said to be the owner of Atoke Hospital Igbona, Osogbo, the Osun state capital, has been languishing in custody.

The victim, a secondary school graduate, claimed that the medical doctor had promised to offer her a job at his hospital and that he allegedly raped her when he invited her to his house to fill out the employment letter.

Olayode was arraigned on July 25 before Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara on two counts of indecent assault and unlawful rape, following which he was remanded at Ilesa Correctional Centre.

At the resumption of the trial on Monday, prosecuting counsel from the State Ministry of Justice, Mosunmola Ogunkola, filed a preliminary objection to the bail application presented by the defendant’s counsel, Muideen Adeoye.

Chief Magistrate Ayilara then fixed September 11, 2024, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive case was adjourned until October 28, 2024.

Speaking after the court proceedings, the chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Osun State, Oluwadamilola Olabiyi, said the Ministry of Justice has filed information at the state High Court regarding the case.

Olabiyi added that there is another case of medical negligence, unprofessionalism, damaging of a patient’s womb, and a missing baby against Olayode, which the State Ministry of Justice has also taken over before the same court.

The lawyer holding the watching brief for the nominal complainant, Tejiri Grace, said the court has provided time for the prosecution team to gather information about the case, adding that other necessary steps would be taken after the court’s ruling on the defendant’s bail application.