The Ondo State Police Command on Thursday arraigned a 23-year-old cross-dresser and content creator, Taiwo Austine, before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Akure over alleged involvement in same-sex activities.
Austine was arraigned alongside two other defendants, Haris Abubakar (25) and Matthew Ogwu (32), on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and alleged same-sex conduct.
According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Abayomi Jejeniwa, the defendants were arrested in Akure last month following an investigation that allegedly linked them to same-sex acts. Jejeniwa claimed that the alleged acts occurred between April 15 and 17, 2025.
The charge sheet reads in part:
“That you, Haris Abubakar ‘m’, Austine Taiwo ‘m’, Ogwu Mathew ‘m’, and one other now at large, between the 15th and 17th day of April, 2025, at Akure in the Akure Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit a felony, to wit: homosexuality.
“That you, Haris Abubakar ‘m’, Austine Taiwo ‘m’ and one other now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, were found engaging in a same-sex act, contrary to the order of nature.
“That you, Ogwu Mathew ‘m’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, attempted to engage in a same-sex act, contrary to the order of nature.”
The prosecution stated that the alleged offences are in violation of Sections 516, 214, and 215 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecutor requested an adjournment to prepare his case and present two witnesses. In response, defence counsel A.W. Lawoye urged the court to grant bail to the defendants on liberal terms, arguing that the charges were still unproven allegations.
Magistrate B.A. Alphonso adjourned the case until August 11 for bail consideration and ordered the remand of the defendants in police custody pending the next hearing.
