5 Unilag students re-arraigned over alleged gang-rape

The Lagos state Directorate of Public Prosecutions on Monday re-arraigned for the second time, four undergraduates of the University of Lagos (Unilag) and an undergraduate of Babcock University for allegedly gang-raping a 17-year-old undergraduate of Unilag. 

The students, Moboluwaji Omowole, Chuka Chukwu and Peace Nwakanma, all aged 19 and James Aguedu and Josephine Osemeka, both aged 20. were re-arraigned before an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.

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Initially, the students who were arraigned on February 26, 2019, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of child defilement and permitting defilement of a child in a premises and procreation. 

The undergraduates were re-arraigned on June 27, 2019, on a fresh five-count charge of defilement of a child, permitting defilement of a child, procreation and sexual assault. 

However, on Monday they were re-arraigned on an amended six-count charge of defilement of a child, permitting defilement of a child, procreation and sexual assault. 

The defendants however, pleaded not guilty. Following their re-arraignment, the alleged victim (name withheld) was cross-examined by counsel to Osemeka, Ben Edechime. 

The complainant (alleged victim) during her cross-examination told the court that she had never met Osemeka prior to the day she was allegedly gang-raped by the defendants at High-Rise, a staff quarters at Unilag.

She admitted being aware that High-Rise was a public place. Stating that “I saw her (Osemeka) when I first entered into the room with Yinka and also after everyone involved had their turn and came back inside. 

“She was outside with the other rapists and when everyone came inside, she was there when they were molesting me. I was gang-raped by about six to eight people.”

The complainant said after the alleged gang-rape, she felt used, was scared, confused and did not know what to do. 

“There was no one else in the area where I was abused. My clothes were not torn while I was being raped because I was being held down and I did not struggle enough for them to tear my clothes. 

“I did not know what to do after it had happened and I did not report the incident because they had threatened me with a video. The rapes occurred only in two different rooms at High-Rise and at Chuka’s (second defendant’s) house.

“An attempt was also made at a place I know as waterfront. I put up a struggle during the first incident, but on other subsequent times, I did not put up a struggle because of the video,” she said.

Edechime however, disputed claims that the complainant was gang-raped, arguing that “from your evidence before the court, you were the one raping the defendants, enjoying them and you made the court to remand them.”

According to the complainant, she was lured sometime in January 2017 by Nwankama, who was her roommate to High-Rise, a staff quarters hostel in Unilag where she was allegedly gang-raped at by eight male students and sexually assaulted by Osemeka. 

She further alleged that the gang-rape and sexual assault at High Rise was video-taped and that she was blackmailed and subsequently, gang-raped by the defendants and their accomplices who are now at large. 

The alleged offences contravene Sections 137, 138 and 140 (1)(a) o f the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015.