Lagos Government arraigns hotel owner, workers for aiding homosexuality

 

Following the arrest of 42 alleged homosexuals at Vintage Hotel in Owode Onirin area of Ikorodu, the Lagos State Government have arrested and arraigned the owner of the hotel, Chief Patrick Okeze before a Yaba Magistrate Court for allegedly aiding and promoting same sex sexual activities and gay club in his hotel.

Okeze who was arraigned alongside two of his workers, Sunday Isang and Bright Oba, was accused of encouraging the illegal act perpetrated by young men and minors in the hotel contrary to the provisions of Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014.

After the one-count criminal charge against Okeze (56), Isang (30) and Oba (28) was called and read before Chief Magistrate Adewale Ojo, the defendants were not allowed to take their plea on the account of the fact that the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the subject matter of the case.

The prosecution team including Ms Adetutu Oshinusi, Bosun Aroyehun, Folabi Sholebo, Olaitan Shoetan and Nnena Okereka, all from the State’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), urged the court to remand the defendants in prison pending the outcome of the legal advice of the DPP.

In his ruling, Magistrate Ojo ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison pending the DPP advice. The Magistrate also adjourned the matter to September 4, 2017.

Magistrate Ojo had, after the arraignment of the 28 adults on Thursday, ordered them to undergo health screening by the Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LSACA) and sexual rehabilitation by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).
According to PM News, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem said the development was an eloquent testimony to the commitment of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to fight all forms of crime and criminality.

“The arraignment is a confirmation of the commitment of the Lagos State Government to ensure that every resident abides by the law of the State and also to put a stop to the exploitation of under-aged children who are often lured by unscrupulous and criminally-minded adults to engage in acts or behaviours that are not in consonance with the laws of the State,” Kazeem said.