By Eberechi Obinagwam
Lagos State High Court has sentenced a 45-year-old University of Lagos (UNILAG) lecture, Azeez Akin Baruwa, to 21 years imprisonment for raping a 18-year-old girl who was seeking admission into the university.
The justice incharge of the court, Ikeja Special Offences Court, Justice Josephine Efunkunbi Oyefeso, convicted and sentenced Baruwa on a one-count charge of rape.
The convict lured the victim to his office by pretending to be in a position to give her admission and then raped her.
While pronouncing her judgement, Justice Oyefeso said that the defendant, who appears to be first time offender, clearly understood the gravity of the offence and the consequences of his action.
She stated, “I find that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt all the elements needed to prove the defendant is guilty as charge. I find you guilty as charged on a one-count charge of rape.
“The offence committed against this lady is a violation of her chastity. It is an offence to her family, it is an offence to the community at large.
“This is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. I hereby sentence the convict to 21 years imprisonment. This is the sentence of the court.”
The prosecution team led by the Director at the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr Yakub Oshoala, reacting to the judgment, stated: “This will show that this state has zero tolerance to such a crime. The convict took advantage of a weak and disadvantaged person.
“This will go a long way to resound the fact that neither the state nor the society will accept this kind of behavior.
“There are many students out there who are weak and unprotected. This is to serve as a warning to people of the convict kind to stop such act,” he said.
