Two men, identified as Nurani Adeoye Bakare, 44, and Tayo Awoyemi, 33, have been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court over alleged homosexual conduct in the Yaba area of the state.
The defendants were said to have been arrested following a distress call by residents of a residential compound who reportedly became suspicious of the activities of the two men.
According to sources familiar with the incident, some residents allegedly forced their way into the apartment occupied by the suspects before the situation degenerated into violence. The sources claimed that the two men were assaulted before police officers arrived at the scene.
The police subsequently took the suspects into custody for further investigation.
It was further gathered that one of the defendants, Awoyemi, allegedly sustained injuries during the incident, although the police have yet to officially confirm the claim.
The defendants are facing charges bordering on gross indecency and unnatural offences under the provisions of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2014.
Under the law, persons found guilty of such offences risk up to 14 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Confirming the arrest, a police spokesperson stated that the matter was being handled in line with the provisions of the law, adding that investigations were still ongoing.
The court adjourned the matter to a later date for further hearing, while the defendants were remanded in custody pending the continuation of proceedings.
