A former local government chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 local government elections in Kwara State, Musbau Esinrogunjo, was on Wednesday docked by at the State High Court for alleged rape of a minor.
The Kwara state government had dragged the politician before the court for allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with one Aishat Kamardeen, aged 15.
The defence counsel, Joseph Bamgboye (SAN), initially opposed Esinrogunjo’s arraignment before the intervention of the court.
Consequently, his plea was not taken after all.
Leading the prosecution, the state director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ayoola Akande, prayed for proper arraignment of the suspect, but the defence counsel challenged the competency of the arraignment.
Akande told the court that “the matter is for arraignment. We humbly apply that the charge be read to the defendant.”
The one count charge of allegation of rape and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor was read to him.
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
The DPP argued that the accused “is already before the court and he has not been granted bail.”
But, the defence counsel informed the court that the Department of State Service (DSS) has granted him bail since July 2025.
“He has not breached the terms of the bail. He is not at large. There is still a bail on his neckneck,” he said.
Reacting, Akande said that “you cannot consider the issue of bail either written or oral until after proper arraignment.”
The presiding judge, Funso Dada Lawal, allowed the arraignment of the defendant but deferred the plea taking to the next adjourned date.
Justice Lawal subsequently adjourned the case to November 13, 2025, for hearing of the defendant’s application and plea taking, in line with section 228 of the Kwara state Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
LEADERSHIP reports that Esinrogunjo is also standing trial before the court of Justice E.B Mohammed for allegedly beating a traffic warden while on duty.
