Lagos begins trial of lecturer for alleged student rape

A part-time lecturer of the Department of Primary Education and Early Childhood Development of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos, Kolawole Muyiwa, on Monday, appeared before the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, presided over by Justice Ramon Oshodi, on trial for the alleged rape of a student.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the Lagos State Government had on February 6, 2023, arraigned the lecturer over the alleged rape of the victim, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Muyiwa, according to the prosecution counsel, B. T. Boye and I. D Solarin, is facing a count of rape as made against him by the Lagos State Government.

The prosecution counsel disclosed that the incident occurred on October 11, 2021, at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos State, adding that Muyiwa had committed the alleged rape which contravenes Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

PUNCH Metro further gathered that the victim, 18 years old at the time of the incident, was a full-time student of the Department of Primary Education and allegedly had decided to help Muyiwa record scores in an office when the incident occurred.

During the trial and cross-examination of the defence’s first witness, the defendant, Kolawole Muyiwa, disclosed to the court that he is a married man with children and that he had asked the prosecutrix to be in a relationship with him, to which she allegedly accepted.

“On October 11, 2021, at about 9:30 to 10:00 in the morning, I was coming to the college to record and submit scripts to the School of Part-Time Studies. On getting to the gate, I met Damilola. She greeted me and said she would help me carry my bag, I asked if she could record scores, and she said no problem.

“I went to the office, the place we keep the key and I took the key and opened the office. We both entered the office, and I gave her the scripts to record, which she did. She told me she had a meeting and I told her if they finished the meeting, she could come back and record, which she obliged. Probably, they did not start, so she came back and I gave her (the scripts) to record, and she recorded them. They brought light, she was charging her phone and I asked her for a relationship and she accepted.

“Other students came in on that particular day to submit their projects, which I attended to before I left for my Master’s programme at LASU.”

“On October 13, 2021, the HOD of Guidance and Counselling called me and asked me if I knew this lady. I told her that the lady was my girlfriend. She proceeded to tell me that someone reported that I raped her. I told her that I did not rape the lady and that I had asked her out, and she accepted.”

He further said that he then travelled to Ilesha for burial and on coming back, the HOD of Primary Education called him and told him that the police were looking for him. “I said on what grounds, and I was told it was about Damilola’s matter, that I raped her. I told him that the HOD of Guidance and Counselling had called my attention to the case, and I had told her everything,” he volunteered.

According to him, “I called my HOD, the HOD of Early Childhood Education. I got in touch with my lawyer, and we went to the station together. I was detained there for five days before they charged the case to court. I was charged with sexual assault.”

“The day I met Damilola was the first time we met, and she was a full-time student of the Department of Primary Education. We both entered the office, and we were alone for about 10 to 20 minutes. When she finished recording, I then spoke to her about a relationship. A friendship kind of relationship. I asked her for a relationship where we could be together, talk, relate with one another, and hear her points of view. So, we could talk whenever she had a problem, not a sexual relationship and she accepted.”

“I am married with children. My expectation for the relationship was to encourage her whenever she had a problem with her academics. I told the HOD of Guidance and Counselling that she was my girlfriend, and I only saw her on October 11, 2021, and October 13, 2021. The day she recorded scores for me and the day I was reported.”

Consequently, Justice Oshodi then adjourned the case to January 13, 2025.