An Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Babatunde Ashifat, yesterday, told a Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, how a man, Jelili Lawal, allegedly raped a septuagenarian to death.
Ashifat was led-in-evidence by the state counsel, Ms. Bukola Okeowo, in the ongoing sexual assault trial of Lawal before Justice Rahman Oshodi. The prosecution witness told court that on January 2, 2019, he received the case for investigation at their station by an officer who was on patrol.He said the police officer was called by two ladies, who saw the defendant allegedly raping the victim.
Ashifat narrated that the old woman, who was with the defendant on January 1, 2019, at Maryland, asked him to assist her locate her way home.
The witness 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 Shoprite and took her to an uncompleted building in a bushy area, assaulted and sexually abused her till 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.”
The witness further narrated that the victim, who had hearing problems, had been declared missing by her family and sustained injuries from the sexual assault. He noted 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 told later that the victim died due to the bleeding sustained as a result of the rape,” the witness added.
The police officer said he recorded the statements of the alleged victim and the defendant, adding that he visited the scene of the crime, which was a bushy and an abandoned place where no one was living. After listening to his testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned further hearing to October 27.
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.
