How suspected serial rapist attacked Unilag students, by witnesses

Three staff of the University of Lagos (Unilag) yesterday told an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court how an alleged rapist, John Otema, attacked students on campus. Otema, a Unilag alumnus, is facing a three-count charge of rape and assault occasioning harm before the court. He, however, denied committing the offences. The Unilag staff […]

Three staff of the University of Lagos (Unilag) yesterday told an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court how an alleged rapist, John Otema, attacked students on campus.

Otema, a Unilag alumnus, is facing a three-count charge of rape and assault occasioning harm before the court.

He, however, denied committing the offences.

The Unilag staff who testified during yesterday’s proceedings included Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, a member of the Crime Section, Unilag Security Unit, who is also the investigating security officer in the case.

The others are Dr Adedoyin Solola from the University of Lagos Medical School and Dr Aishat Bello of Unilag Medical Centre.

Ajayi, who gave evidence-in-chief on Dec. 11, 2018, was cross-examined by Mr Fred Onyeka, Otema’s defence counsel, during the proceedings.

Ajayi, while being led in evidence on Dec. 11, 2018, by the state prosecutor, Mrs K. A Momoh-Ayokambi, narrated how the first complainant, (name withheld) told him how she was allegedly raped by the accused.

“On Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018, while coming from her hostel to Moremi Hall, an unknown man parked his car and asked for directions to Moremi Hall; he compelled her to enter the car.

“The unknown man drove her to the Distant Learning Institute area where he assaulted her by punching her face several times; he hit her back and ordered her to remove her clothes.

“He took her nude photos and had carnal knowledge of her twice without a condom. The defendant deflowered her that day, he asked her to bring a handkerchief which she used to clean her private part.

“He collected the handkerchief, took her pant and bra and took her to a dumpsite. He ordered her to leave his car and told her to count from one to 50 and he drove off,” he quoted the student as narrating.

Ajayi also testified on Dec. 11, 2018, that another student (name withheld) had on Feb. 1, 2018, lodged a complaint at the Unilag Security Post that the accused raped her twice at 11.30pm on Jan. 31, 2018 in his apartment at Bariga, Lagos. He said the accused was apprehended when the second student saw him outside New Hall (a hostel in Unilag) and alerted the university Security Section.

While being cross-examined, yesterday, by Onyeka, Ajayi denied assaulting Otema when he was apprehended by the security team of the university.

In her evidence, Solola, who has been a staff of Unilag Medical School for 12 years, explained her findings when she medically examined the first student.

Testifying, Dr Bello, a staff of the Unilag Medical Center, narrated her findings when she examined the second student.

“A young lady came in at 2.30pm on Feb. 1, 2018.  She complained that she was sexually assaulted; she said she visited a male friend (the defendant) and was sexually assaulted,” she said.

The judge adjourned the case until Feb. 18, for continuation of trial. (NAN)