A postgraduate student of the Federal University of Agriculture , Abeokuta , has accused a man , Adesoji Orenowo , of raping her in his house at European Quarters, Meiran , Lagos .
PUNCH Metro gathered that the 24 -year – old met Orenowo at a wedding ceremony in Ibadan , Oyo State , in December 2017
The duo had reportedly exchanged telephone numbers and kept in touch through social media chats and calls.
The suspect was said to have invited the student , who resided in Abeokuta , to his house in Lagos .
It was gathered that Orenowo sent transport fare to the Osun State indigene .
The 35 – year- old was alleged to have raped the victim during the encounter .
The postgraduate student , in her statement to the police , said she agreed to spend the night at Orenowo ’ s house because she trusted him .
She said , “ The reason I visited him was to know him more after we met in December 2017 . He told me that he was always busy at work and if I were free during the weekend, we could hook up . He sent me N3 , 000 for transport fare . That was the first time he would send money to me .
“ When I got to his place, I slept there because I met his uncle and the uncle’ s wife with some cousins , who welcomed me. Though I was still uncomfortable and was contemplating on going back home, his uncle ’ s wife said I was safe .
“ Around 10 pm, I went to sleep in the room provided for me, which was opposite his uncle’ s room . Around 2 . 30 am , I saw Orenowo beside me; he was touching and harassing me . I suddenly stood up and went to the passage . Fortunately , his uncle came out to urinate and saw me reading the Bible with the torchlight of my phone. I went to sit in the sitting room .
Orenowo came and suddenly dragged me from the sitting room through the passage into the room . While hitting my head on the wall , he held my neck . I called for help, but his uncle did not come out .
“ He ( Orenowo ) almost strangled me , saying if I said anything , he would kill me and nobody would trace me . I received a lot of punches and slaps. He stripped me naked and threatened to tie me to the bed if I did not cooperate with him . He penetrated me through the anus and private parts . ”
The victim said she reported the incident to Orenowo ’ s uncle and left the house for a hospital .
She said a nurse followed her to a police station to report the case .
Orenowo , however , denied the allegation , saying he did not sleep with his guest after she turned down his advances .
He said , “ While I was touching her after we had retired to bed , she told me not to touch her that she was in a fasting and prayer programme . She took the Bible on my bed and left the room .
“ When she later came back from the sitting room , we started romancing each other and she insisted that she did not want to have sex and I left her to sleep . ”
Orenowo was arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates ’ Court on one count of sexual assault.
The police prosecutor , Inspector Christopher John , said the offence contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 .
The charge read , “That you , Adesoji Orenowo , on September 7 , 2018 , around 2 am , at European Quarters, Meiran , Lagos , in the Lagos Magisterial District , did unlawfully sexually assault one ( name withheld ) , by penetrating her private parts . ”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge .
The magistrate, Mr P. E . Nwaka , ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison.
Source PUNCH .
