A 22-year-old security guard, David Jonah, was on Friday arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping his co-worker.

Jonah, who is facing a two-count charge of assault and rape, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to him.

The prosecutor, Insp. Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences at 4:15 a.m on Dec. 9, 2018 at Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ekundayo said that Jonah, who was a security guard at the hotel, allegedly assaulted the woman, who also worked at the hotel, by holding her neck, inflicting injury on her and raping her.

He said: “The woman went to the security house to get a phone to call her husband as her battery was down.

“She met only David in the room and asked to use his phone. The defendant switched off the light and held her neck to strangle her, gave her a punch on her eye and forced himself on her.” He said that the offences contravene Sections 172 and 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Section 172 prescribes three years imprisonment while section 260 attracts 14 years imprisonment for offenders.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. M. Olumide-Fusika, granted the defendant N100, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that one of the sureties must be a relative of the defendant and the other a civil servant.

She directed that the case file be duplicated and sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

She later adjourned the case to May 17 for mention.

NAN