A member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Fasade Ezekiel Adesoji has been arraigned in court for allegedly r3p!ng a student of Osun State University, Osogbo.
Adesoji, 29years-old was arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Police in February 2024 after allegedly committing the crime.
According to The Point, 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 charge her phone when Soji allegedly took advantage of the power outage in the area to forcefully force her to bed.
It was gathered that the student lives off-campus and had gone to charge her phone in Soji’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 Soji, 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 whenever he is on break, 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 an eyewitness, it was after a vigilante officer in the area visited Soji’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.
Some residents notified a human rights activist, Citizen Lola Wey who followed the matter up and brought it to the attention of the state government.
“The victim had been taken to the hospital for necessary medical examination and treatment. The police are already involved and they arrested the suspect.
⁰However, I heard they have granted him bail. But, we will assist the victim in getting justice because she was highly traumatized by the incident,” Wey said
Following police investigation, Adesoji, a Microbiology graduate of Igbajo Polytechnic was docked on four count-charges bordering on r@pe, 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 c@rn@l 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 r@pist 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 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.
The case was adjourned till May 10 for hearing. However, Adesoji was taken to Ilesa Correctional Centre after he could not meet up his bail conditions.
