A lawyer, Mr Ben Edechime has informed an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court that Josephine Osemeka, one of the students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG)accused of participating in the gang-rape of a fellow student (name withheld) has been expelled by the institution.
Edechime made the revelation on Tuesday during the trial of 20-year-old Osemeka and four other schoolmates – Moboluwaji Omowole, 19, Chuka Chukwu, 19, Peace Nwankama, 19 andJames Aguedu, 20 for the offence.
The defendants face a four-count charge of defilement of a child, permitting defilement of a child, procuration, and sexual assault.
Today’s proceedings was however stalled because counsel to Omowole (first defendant), Mr Adebisi Ademuwagun could not make an appearance in the case due to a bereavement.
While aligning with submissions that the case should be adjourned, Edechime brought to the attention of the court that UNILAG had expelled Osemeka (fifth defendant) without awaiting the outcome of the trial.
“My lord, I want to bring to the attention of this honourable court that the University of Lagos gave a letter of expulsion to my client who is the fifth defendant.
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“The expulsion letter was given to her while the outcome of this trial is pending,” he said.
Justice Abiola Soladoye did not give a response to Edechime’s revelation but rather, adjourned the case until April 29 for continuation of trial.
The complainant had in her Feb. 26, 2019 testimony told the court that sometime in January 2017, she was lured by Nwankama who was her roommate to High Rise, a staff quarters hostel at UNILAG.
She said she was gang-raped at High Rise by eight male students and sexually assaulted by Osemeka who she alleged had kissed her during her ordeal.
The complainant had said she was 17-years-old at when the crime was allegedly committed and that the gang-rape and sexual assault was videotaped.
According to her, she was also blackmailed with the video and further gang-raped on other occasions by the some of defendants and their accomplices who are now at large.
The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 137, 138, 140(1)(a) and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.
