By Adenike Ayodele
Ikeja – A 19-year-old, Waris Rasheed, who the police accused of attempting to rape three female factory workers in their staff toilet, on Wednesday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court
The police charged the Rasheed, a driver who lives at No. 23 Efun St., Ibadan, with sexual harassment.
The prosecution alleged that the accused attempted to rape three female factory workers, Olusola Bolaji, Victoria Daniel and Alawode Abosede, staff of Imperio International Ltd.
Insp Raphael Donny told the court that the accused committed the offences on Nov. 5 at 11 a. m. at No. 6 Ayodele Diyan St., Ikeja Industrial Estate,Lagos.
He alleged the accused, who entered into the staff female toilet, in search of water, sexually harassed the complainants and injured one of them on the face following an unwelcome sexual advance.
“The accused entered the female toilet under the pretext of looking for water to put in his car engine but attempted to sexually harass the complainants.
“The accused was caught by the company’s security guard and was handed over to the police after complainants shouted for help, ” he said.
The offence, he said, contravened the provision of Section 264 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, (Revised)
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section stipulates a three-year jail term for attempted sexual harassment.
After the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
Chief Magistrate B. O. Osunsemi, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsemi ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the Court.
She adjourned the case until Dec. 10 for hearing
