BY Jemilat Nasiru
An Ikeja high court on Thursday sentenced Akin Baruwa, a former part-time lecturer at the University of Lagos, to 21 years in prison for raping an admission seeker.
Baruwa was said to have sexually assaulted his victim, then 18 years old, on July 23, 2015.
The lady was said to have gone to his office at room 8, faculty of business administration annex building, UNILAG, to seek his help in getting admitted into the institution when he took advantage of her.
Baruwa was first arraigned in court on October 18, 2016.
Four witnesses – the victim, her father, a policewoman and a medical doctor – testified for the prosecution while Baruwa testified solely in his defence.
He had told the court that the sexual incident was consensual, claiming that the lady had tried to seduce him.
He alleged that he only had sex with her after she threatened to create a scene if he did not.
However, Josephine Oyefeso, the presiding judge, held that the medical evidence negate Baruwa’s claims.
She, therefore, sentenced him to prison for 21 years “to serve as deterrent to others”.
“The offence committed against this young lady was a violation of her chastity which would have left huge emotional scars from which I pray and hope she will recover,” Oyefeso said.
“I cannot begin to imagine the physical and mental trauma she has had to endure from the man who she considered her father’s friend, a community leader who should have known better. This is a shame!
“This is a crime that not only offends the survivor, it offends her family, it offends the society at large, it also offends God.
“He used the vulnerability of this young girl to his selfish advantage. The young lady said that the encounter lasted for two to five minutes, the convict said 10 to 15 minutes. Was it worth it at the end of the day?
“In line with Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011, Baruwa Afeez Akin is hereby sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.”
Oyefeso said that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the medical evidence was consistent with the testimony of the victim.
“It is interesting to note that all the graphic details he gave in court in his testimony were not contained in his statement at the Surulere Police Station,” she said.
“The difference between his statement and his evidence are like night and day. DW1 (Baruwa) has a fertile imagination and is not afraid to use it.
“The evidence before me overwhelmingly shows that the sexual intercourse between PW3 (complainant) and DW1 was not consensual; I so hold. The court is satisfied that the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“I find you Baruwa Afeez Akin guilty of a one-count charge of rape contrary to Section 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011, and I hereby convict you accordingly.”
UNILAG had in October suspended Boniface Igbeneghu, a lecturer and former sub-dean of faculty of art in the institution, for sexual harassment.
Igbeneghu, who is also head pastor of a Foursquare Gospel Church, was exposed in 13-minute video while he was soliciting sex from reporter who posed as an admission seeker.
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