Justice Yinka Aderibigbe of an Osun State High Court, Osogbo, has ordered the remand of two brothers, Abiodun Atoyebi (29) and Sodiq Atoyebi (33), accused of defiling a minor.

The two brothers were alleged to have had sexu@l intercourse with an eight-year-old girl, and thereby committed offences contrary to the law.

The defendants were arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on rape and unlawful sexual intercourse, allegedly committed between 2022 and 2024 at Zone 10 near the Capital Hotel area in Osogbo.

State counsel, Labo Popoola, told the court that the defendants forcefully removed the victim's underwear before ass@ulting her.

Part of the charge reads

"That you, Abiodun Atoyebi, sometimes in 2022 at Temidire Estate, Osogbo, forcefully took the pants of the victim and thereby committed an offence, and you, Sodiq Atoyebi, around June 16 to 18, 2024, did have carnal knowledge of the victim by taking her pants forcefully."

The prosecution stated that the accused individuals deflowered the minor, violating multiple statutes.

The prosecutors told the court that the alleged offences contravened the provisions of Sections 32(1) and (2) of the Child Rights Law of Osun State, 2007; Sections 360 and 218 of the Criminal Code; and Section 2(2) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law of Osun State.

When the charges were read, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations against them.

Justice Aderibigbe thereby ordered that the brothers be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case to December 1 for the commencement of the hearing.