Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Special Offences Court on Monday sentenced an alumnus of the University of Lagos, Akoka, John Otema, to 50 years’ imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old student of the institution.
Otema was arraigned before the court on three counts bordering on rape and assault occasioning harm contrary to sections 173 and 260 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
It was earlier reported that Otema was accused of raping two students of UNILAG.
He allegedly had sexual intercourse with Student Y without her consent on January 31, 2018, at his home at No. 6, Ajileye Street, in the Bariga area of Lagos; and on January 17, he had unlawful sexual intercourse with Student X around DLI in UNILAG and also physically assaulted Student X by hitting her several times in the face and biting her back.
According to the prosecution, Otema had asked Student X for direction to Moremi Hall and compelled her to enter the car under the pretext of giving her a ride.
Upon entering the car, Otema, however, locked the car doors and drove to DLI, where he assaulted her by punching her face several times, bitting her back, ordering her to undress and taking her nude photos.
During the trial, the prosecution called six witnesses, which included the two victims.
Delivering her judgment on Monday, Justice Soladoye found Otema guilty of raping and assaulting Student X, while she absolved him of the charge of raping Student Y.
Soladoye, who held that the testimony of Student Y was mischievous, noted that she would not have claimed that Otema raped her if he had paid her the N50,000 agreed upon.
She also held that in addition to the medical report and photographs, Student X, while giving her evidence, identified Otema as the person who bit her back and punched her eyes.
The judge said, “The defendant, John Osagie Otema, in respect of count one is found not guilty, as there is overwhelming evidence before the court that sexual intercourse between the defendant and PW2 (Student Y) was consensual, as it was friendship with benefits.
“For count two, the defendant is found guilty and is hereby sentenced to 50 years in prison as the evidence adduced before this court has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution.
“With regard to count three, the defendant is found guilty and is hereby sentenced to three years in prison, as the prosecution has done its job diligently by proving the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. The sentence will run concurrently.”