Tears, As Man Rapes 78-years old woman To Death
A Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos State, has on Tuesday, heard testimony from an Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Babatunde Ashifat, about how a man named Jelili Lawal is accused of raping a septuagenarian to death.
Ashifat was called as a witness in the continuing sexual assault trial of Lawal before Justice Rahman Oshodi by the state’s attorney, Ms. Bukola Okeowo.
The witness who was led in evidence in chief by the state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, told the court that he received the case for investigation on January 2, 2019.
Ashifat stated that the case was reported at their station by an officer who was on patrol.
The witness further told the court that the policemen who reported the case were called by two ladies who saw the defendant allegedly raping the victim.
According to him, the old woman was with the defendant on January 1, 2019, at the Maryland area of Lagos and begged him that he should please help her locate her way home.
He said: “The defendant gave her N500 and they boarded the same bus together.
“On getting to a bus stop, the defendant told her to come down at the Shoprite and took her to an uncompleted building in a bushy area, assaulted and raped her in the middle of the night.
“The victim was crying for help when two ladies heard her and caught the defendant in the act.
“They helped the woman by calling a patrol officer and the matter was reported at our station.”
Ashifat further narrated to the court that the alleged victim, who had a problem with her ears and was declared missing by her family, sustained injuries from the sexual assault.
He added that the alleged victim later died from the incident due to excessive bleeding.
“The victim was bleeding in her anus and vagina and I issued a medical form for her to be taken to Mirabel Medical Centre.
“The medical doctor who examined her confirmed that there was a forceful penetration on the vagina.
“I was later told that the victim died due to the bleeding she sustained as a result of the rape,” the witness said.
The policeman also said that after the report was made, he recorded the statements of the alleged victim and the defendant.
He said that he visited the scene of the crime, which was bushy and an abandoned place where no one was living.
Justice Rahman Oshodi has adjourned the case until October 27, 2023, for continuation of trial.
MEANWHILE, Justice Ganiyu Safari of a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Eti-Osa, has restrained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and any other law enforcement agencies from arresting and harassing personnel of A4 Reality Limited over possession of landed property in Eti- Osa Local Council.
The order followed a motion ex parte filed by the firm over a landed property, located at Plot 1, Block XXE, Ojomu Chieftaincy Family Layout, Ajiran, Eti-Osa Local Council.
Access Bank Plc, NPF, Inspector General of Police, and EFCC are listed as the first to third respondents. Justice Safari also fixed November 13, for hearing of the suit.
