A 23-year-old professed Celestial Church prophet, Adewale Adeleke, on Tuesday in Lagos, appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud and rape.
Adeleke, who resides at No. 2 Ajibola Street, Agbado Ijaiye, Lagos was arraigned on a four-count charge of stealing, obtaining by false pretext, impersonation and rape.
Prosecutor Chris Takim told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 26 at 6 p.m. at the premises of Original Inn Hotel, Ebute Meta.
Takim said the accused approached his victim claiming to be spiritually informed about her problems and had solutions to them through a scheduled prayer session.
He said the complainant met him at the hotel on the scheduled appointment were he obtained her mobile phone and N13, 000 as mobilisation fees.
“Adeleke collected her phones and N13, 000 to begin the prayer session with her and later forced her to strip naked as a prerequisite for her prayer to be answered.
“Adeleke, thereafter unlawfully assaulted her and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent,’’ the prosecutor said.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 258, 285, 312 and 378 of the Criminal Laws if Lagos State, 2011.
Section 258 prescribed life imprisonment for any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ariike Oshibayo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Oshibayo adjourned the case till Aug. 16 for further hearing.