Unilorin rape: Your statements not obtained under duress, judge tells suspects

A Kwara State high court yesterday concluded the protracted trial within trial of the eight defendants arrested for the alleged murder and rape of the late University of Ilorin student, Miss Olajide Blessing. The trial within trial was aimed at establishing the admissibility of the confessional statements made by all the defendants in the course of […]

A Kwara State high court yesterday concluded the protracted trial within trial of the eight defendants arrested for the alleged murder and rape of the late University of Ilorin student, Miss Olajide Blessing.

The trial within trial was aimed at establishing the admissibility of the confessional statements made by all the defendants in the course of their interrogation.

Justice Adebayo Yusuf ruled that the statements attributed to the defendants were obtained voluntarily and without oppression as claimed by them.

He therefore admitted them as evidence.

He said none of the defence witnesses had been able to ascertain the allegation that the statements were obtained through torture and oppression.

As opposed to the allegation laid by the defence counsels, Justice Yusuf said the defendants were informed of their rights to remain silent and to get an attorney, whereby they said they didn’t have any and that they were not coerced into giving their statements.

The judge, however, noted that the contradictions in the prosecution witnesses’ testimonies as pointed out by the defence counsels are mere discrepancies and not severe enough to affect the admissibility of the statements.

He also submitted that there is no statutory law on the endorsement of the defendants’ statement hence the failure to endorse the statement by a superior officer doesn’t affect the admissibility of the statement.

He added that claims that they were beaten and tortured before obtaining their statements and that their family members were prevented from having access to them were afterthoughts.

He said he is satisfied that the prosecutors have proved their case beyond doubt and that he found the evidence of four of the prosecution witnesses credible.

He therefore overruled the statements made by all the defence counsels and admitted all the confessional statements attributed to the defendants into evidence.

The case was adjourned until December 3rd, 2021 for the continuation of proper hearing.