The police in Lagos State have arrested a part-time
lecturer, Afeez Baruwa, for allegedly raping an 18-year-old girl, identified as
Caroline (pseudonym) in the Yaba area.
We learnt that the victim, who was reportedly raped inside a
study room, was seeking admission into the University of Lagos, Akoka. It was
gathered that Baruwa was arrested by the Surulere Police Division on Monday,
August 3.
Our correspondent gathered that the lecturer, however, told
the police in his statement that the sexual intercourse was by mutual consent,
insisting that he did not rape the victim. We learnt that the lecturer and
Caroline’s father belonged to the same landlords’ association in the Abesan,
Ipaja area.It was gathered that the victim’s father had allowed her daughter to
follow the lecturer on July 23, to UNILAG for an admission process.It was
learnt that Baruwa allegedly took the girl inside one of the study halls, bolted
the door, and raped her.It was learnt that after the incident, Caroline, who
told her parents about the rape, was taken to a non-governmental organisation,
Mirabel Centre, where she was tested.
The medical result reportedly confirmed that the teenager
was violated. Our correspondent gathered that Caroline was thereafter taken to
the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, and the matter was also reported
at the police station. Baruwa was subsequently arrested. A police source in
Surulere said, “The suspect is actually a friend of the father of the girl. The
girl had written the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, and she needed
assistance with the post-UTME.
“So, the father sent her to meet and discuss with the
lecturer. But, it turned out that on
July 23 when the girl visited the suspect, he raped the girl in the study room.“The
suspect confessed to the act, but his claim is that the sex was by mutual
consent. ”The Director of the Office of the Public Defender, Mrs. Omotola
Rotimi, said the OPD would write a letter to the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor on the
incident, so as to ensure that such did not reoccur. She said, “The victim’s
father wanted the lecturer to assist with his daughter’s admission. On the
fateful day, the girl left with the lecturer as early as 5.30am, and they got
to the school at about 7am.“No one had arrived at the hall except a woman.
While the exams had yet to start, he raped her. She went home, and the father
found out that her daughter had been raped. He took her to the Mirabel Centre,
which then informed the OPD.
“The centre also contacted the police at the Surulere and
Isokoko divisions, and the suspect was arrested. “We are going to defend the
girl, and we are writing the VC. The suspect is said to be in the Department of
Accounting. He claimed the sex was consensual, but that is not a defence. ”Our
correspondent gathered that Baruwa, who was in custody, would be charged to
court on Thursday (today).
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Patricia
Amadin, confirmed the arrest. She said, “The suspect claims to be a part-time
lecturer, but not an employee of the University of Lagos. “He has confessed to
the crime and the medical result proved same.”
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