The Osun State Ministry of Justice has taken over the prosecution of the case of a 29-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps, Fasade Ezekiel Adesoji who allegedly raped a female undergraduate of Osun State University, Osogbo.
The Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Police Command had arraigned Adesoji, who is currently observing his one year NYSC in Kwara State for allegedly forcing the student to bed when he left Ilorin where he is serving to Osogbo.
Adesoji was arrested by the Police in February 2024 after allegedly committing the crime.
The female victim (name withheld) was said to have gone to Soji’s room behind Nawarudeen Primary School, Oke-Baale area, Osogbo Local Government Area of the state to put some fruits in his fridge when Adesoji, who is her neighbour, forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
The Point gathered that the student lives off-campus and had gone to Adesoji’s apartment with her friend on the night of Friday, February 16, 2024.
After the two ladies got into the suspect’s place, the victim’s friend reportedly left the room immediately after plugging her phone to attend to other things but before she could return to check her phone, her friend had been screaming in the room as Adesoji, also known as SOJ, allegedly raped her twice.
The corps member, who was said to be serving in Ilorin, Kwara State, but often visits Osogbo, allegedly threatened to kill the victim with a bottle if she fails to allow him satisfy his sexual desire.
It was further learnt that the suspect refused to open his door when neighbours were banging it repeatedly and trying to rescue the female undergraduate.
According to a witness account, it was after a vigilante officer in the area visited the defendant’s apartment with a gun and shot into the air, that the suspect opened the door and freed the victim in the wee hours of Saturday, February 17.
A team of policemen later arrived at the scene and arrested Soji.
The police docked Adesoji, a Microbiology graduate of Igbajo Polytechnic on four count-charges bordering on rape, indecent assault and unlawful detainment of the victim at an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court.
The charge indicated that Adesoji allegedly raped the lady on the 16th day of February, 2024 at about 9:00pm at Oke-Baale area, Osogbo, indecently assaulted her and also detained her against her consent with purpose of forcefully having her carnal knowledge.
According to the charge, the accused person committed offences contrary to and punishable under Section 2(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Osun State 2021; Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Laws of Osun State 2007; Sections 360 and 361 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
A perusal of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law reveals that a convicted rapist risks life imprisonment.
However, Adesoji pleaded not guilty to all the counts. His counsel, L. O. Akinwande prayed the court to admit him to bail and assured that he would make available reliable sureties. He informed the court that Adesoji is a serving Corps member in Kwara State.
The prosecution did not object to the bail application.
Magistrate Oyindamola Daramola had granted the accused bail on the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in the same amount.
She said one of the sureties must be a homeowner while the other must be a biological parent or sibling of the defendant who must bear the same surname with him.
When the matter was mentioned for hearing recently, a counsel from the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Clement Tanimose announced to the court that the ministry would be taking over the matter from the police for prosecution.
Consequently, Magistrate Daramola ordered that the police should hand over the case file to the ministry.
