Police arraign lecturer for raping 18-year-old admission seeker

The police on Thursday arraigned a part- time lecturer, Afeez Baruwa, for allegedly raping an 18-year-old admission seeker. PUNCH Metro had reported on Thursday that Baruwa took the victim, who was seeking admission into the University of Lagos, Akoka, inside a study room, where he allegedly raped her. Our correspondent had reported that the victim’s father, who belonged to the same landlords’ association with Baruwa in the Abesan, Ipaja area, had allowed his daughter to follow the suspect, on July 23, to UNILAG for an admission process. Baruwa was said to have, however, raped the girl inside one of the study halls at about 9am, when the duo got to the campus. It was also reported that the girl, who relayed the incident to her parents, was taken to a non- governmental organisation, Mirabel Centre, where she was tested. The medical result had revealed that the teenager was violated. The matter was said to have been thereafter taken to the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, and also reported at the Surulere Police Division. Baruwa was subsequently arrested. The OPD Director, Omotola Rotimi, had told PUNCH Metro that the office would write a letter to the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor on the incident. She had added that the OPD would fight for the girl, saying that Baruwa’s claim that the sexual intercourse was consensual was not a defence in law. The 42-year-old lecturer was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos on Thursday. Our correspondent observed the victim and her father in the court premises with agony written on their faces. The lecturer’s wife and other relatives were also observed in the court. The victim’s father and their lawyer, however, were reluctant to speak with PUNCH Metro on the incident. Baruwa was arraigned by the police on one count of rape. The charge read, “That you, Baruwa Afeez, of Block 73, Flat 2, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, on July 23, 2015, at about 09.25 hours, at the Faculty of Business Administration Annex building, Room 8, University of Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did unlawfully rape one (name withheld), aged 18 years, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Justice, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.” The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs. O. Awope, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum. Awope ordered that Baruwa should be remanded at the Kirikiri prison until his bail terms were perfected. The matter was adjourned till September 9, 2015 for trial. SOURCE - PUNCH