The Lagos State Government has said that in spite of a letter of withdrawal by the complainant in a rape case, it was resolute to bring the two defendants to face justice.
The defendants are Don-Chima George, 25, and Olusegun Rasak, 28, both dropouts from Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo in Ogun.
The duo are facing trial before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly drugging and raping a 24-year-old woman at a hotel in Lekki Phase One, Lekki, Lagos.
During previous court proceedings on June 13, the complainant via a letter of withdrawal, dated June 3, informed the court that she wanted the criminal case against the defendants withdrawn.
She said the reason for her intention to withdraw the case was due to “intervention of family members and for the sake of my integrity”.
However, at the start of proceedings on Tuesday, Mr Akin George, a Deputy-Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that Lagos State would continue the prosecution of the defendants.
“At the last adjourned date, my lord said that the state should get feedback from the ministry of justice on how to proceed with this case.
“The instruction from the solicitor-general and the permanent secretary of the ministry of justice is that we should go ahead with the prosecution.
“The witness is already in the box and she should continue with her evidence,” he said.