Acquit Me, Man Accused Of Raping Two LASU Students, Begs Judge

Man

September 30, 2020.

Afeez Ogunbowale, a suspended student of the Lagos State University, (LASU), accused of raping two students of the institution, has appealed to the judge presiding over his case to discharge and acquit him.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), reports that Ogunbowale made the appeal to Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo after testifying on Wednesday before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

“I want this honourable court to discharge and acquit me.

“Since the start of this case, the press has been on my neck, I cannot move around freely.
Ogunbowale begged.

Earlier in his evidence the defendant denied raping or robbing the female students.

Led in evidence by defence counsel, Mr Bisi Salau, he said that on the night of April 18, 2018, which was the time the alleged offences were committed, he was in the school premises preparing for his examination which began in May 2018.

“It has always been my routine to be in school to prepare for an examination, I usually arrived in school at 8 pm and left at 8 am the following day.

“I usually go to school with my roommate, Mayorkun Olaiya, and my coursemate, Kola Agoro. I wrote the examination and generated the results online with my phone.

“I was arrested in September and the offence allegedly happened in April. I have never touched a gun or used a gun on anyone.

“I had paid my school fees for 300 level before I was suspended by the school and was on a grade point of second class upper, almost first class when I was suspended,” he noted.

While being cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Mrs O.A Bajulaiye-Bishi, Ogunbowale stated that he was from the Faculty of Education of LASU.

He explained that though he was not familiar with the complainants, they claimed to also be from the Faculty of Education.

The defendant also denied begging the two complainants for forgiveness when he was confronted by them at a police station.

The judge adjourned the case until Oct. 26 for the continuation of trial.

NAN reports that during proceedings on Nov. 4, 2019, the complainants narrated how they were allegedly robbed by five men.

They were allegedly raped by two members of the gang – Ogunbowale and another, who is at large.

The women had told the court that they lost their virginity to the attack.

According to the prosecution, the defendant committed the offences alongside others who are at large on April 18, 2018, at the Okokomaiko area of Lagos.

“The defendant and his accomplices while armed with a gun, knife, machete and bottle, robbed the students of their phones, power bank, earpiece, gold chain and N1,200.

“The defendant and his accomplice who is at large had unlawful sexual intercourse with the complainants.

“The offences contravene Sections 260(1) and 297(2)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015,” Bajulaiye-Bishi said.

Domole Ifeoma