Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…
Location of Osogbo in Nigeria. (Map courtesy of BBC)
Two young men were arraigned Oct. 1 in Osogbo, Nigeria, on charges of homosexual activity and released on bail pending trial.
The “suspected homosexuals,” as they were described in AllAfrica and Africa Spotlight, are the defendants Samuel Friday, 19, and Oni Oluwatobi, 18, who pleaded not guilty.
The charges against them were described as “a two-count charge of indecent sexual practice and seducing another into homosexuality.” The news report stated:
The prosecutor, Inspector Solomon Oladele told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in May 2012 at about 2 a.m. at Peace of Jesus Apostolic Church, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
Click on the image for the blog’s list of people in prison or awaiting trial for homosexuality.
Mr. Oladele said the accused conspired and unlawfully committed indecent sexual practice and had homosexual sex between themselves, adding that this could have caused breach of peace. …
Mr. Friday was also arraigned for allegedly seducing one Oladipupo Moruf [with indecent touches and sucking].
The prosecutor said that the offence was also committed in May 2012 at about 4 p.m. at Sadiat area of Osogbo.
Mr. Oladele said Moruf’s complaints led to the arrest of the accused.
Bail was set at N100,000 each (US $620) plus two sureties of the same amount.
The men’s potential punishments, if convicted, were not immediately available. They were charged under the laws of Osun State. The federal law in that section of Nigeria provides for 14-year prison sentences for homosexual activity.
The case was adjourned to Nov. 14 for further action.
