I didn’t make confessional statement, says UNILAG alumnus accused of r*pe

John Otema, an alumnus of the University of Lagos (UNILAG),
standing trial for having unlawful sexual intercourse with students
of the institution has denied voluntarily making parts of his
purported confessional statement to the police.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Fred Onyeka,
counsel to Otema, on Monday, contested the statement being tendered
in evidence at the resumed hearing of the case at the Ikeja Sexual
Offences and Domestic Violence Court.

Onyeka said that an addendum of six lines, where his client
admitted to having unlawful sexual intercourse with Student Y (name
withheld) in his statement did not emanate voluntarily from
him.

The defence counsel said that Otema was coerced to write that he
voluntarily wrote the contents and was not beaten prior to writing
the statement.

“I am objecting on the ground that the last six lines of this
statement were made on a different date from the first date which
was Feb. 8, 2018.

“Those six lines were obtained through torture of the defendant.
It was obtained involuntarily my Lord; he was forced to make those
confessions.

“It is a flagrant violation of Section 34(1) (a) of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” Onyeka
said.

Urging the court to look at the proof of evidence, the defence
counsel, requested that the court order a trial-within-trial to
ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of Otema’s alleged
confessional statement.

Responding, Mr Akin George, the lead state prosecutor, urged the
court to allow the prosecution to bring in relevant witnesses to
prove the voluntariness of the confessional statements.

Obliging the request of the defence counsel, Justice Abiola
Soladoye adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for
trial-within-trial.

NAN reports that Otema is facing a three-count charge, bordering
on rape and assault occasioning harm.

He is accused of raping two undergraduates of UNILAG.

According to the charge, Otema had sexual intercourse with
Student Y without her consent on Jan. 31, 2018 at his home at No.
6, Ajileye St., Bariga, Lagos.

Also, on Jan. 17, he had unlawful sexual intercourse with
Student X around the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) at UNILAG,
Akoka, Lagos.

He also allegedly physically assaulted Student X by hitting her
several times on the face, strangling her and biting her back.
The offences contravene Sections 173 and 260(1)(2) of the Criminal
Law of Lagos State 2015.

EFCC Nabs Fraudsters at Osogbo ‘Yahoo-Boys’
Party

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, on Monday, October 14, 2019, raided a
Osogbo-based nightclub notorious for hosting parties for suspected
internet fraudsters.

The raid led to the arrest of 94 suspects and confiscation of 19
exotic cars, laptops, scores of sophisticated mobile phones and
other items.

Popularly known as ‘Club Secret Underground’, the nightclub is
located on the Ibadan-Iwo Expressway of the Osun State capital.

The wee-hour operation was sequel to an intelligence report
hinting that the suspected internet fraudsters were organising a
night party for Sunday, October 13 during which some of them
intended to celebrate their loots.

A discreet operation on the club had earlier been carried out to
ascertain the authenticity of the intelligence.

The confirmation led to the mega raid effected on Monday.

The suspects are currently undergoing further interrogation, and
those indicted would be charged to court as soon as investigations
are concluded.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity