Metro

‘It’s A Clear Set Up’ – Court Says, Discharges UNIBEN Lecturer, Dr. Ekundayo, Of Alleged Rape, Three Years After

Published

11 months ago

October 25, 2024

An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, on Friday, discharged and acquitted a Lecturer of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Dr. Olabode Ekundayo, who had been standing trial on alleged rape of Miss Anita Adesuwa Efosa, a twenty-one (21) year old, 400 Level female student of the said University.

The lecturer, popularly known as “Dr. Bode Steve Ekundayo”, had been successfully assessed for an Associate Professor, in the Department of English and Literature, University of Benin, before he was accused of raping Anita Efosa in his office at ‘Faculty Complex’ in broad daylight light on 5th. October, 2021.

The scandal went viral, and consequently, the accused was issued a query and placed on interdiction pending the investigation of the case by the Police and final determination in court.

The university don was arrested, detained for several weeks and arraigned for alleged rape, but was later granted bail on stringent conditions.

However, after over three years of the legal battle, the High Court in Benin today, October 24th, 2024, discharged and acquitted the accused, citing lack of substantial proofs and evidence against the accused.

Ruling on the Suit marked B/CD/8CV/22, Justice (Mrs.) Mary Itsueli, stressed that the prosecution team failed completely to prove their case against the accused beyond all reasonable doubts.

The Judge asserted that even if anyone was to believe the claims of the alleged victim in their face value, there was no substantial required proofs or evidence whatsoever to establish sexual intercourse or rape.

Justice Itsueli summarised the outcomes of the examinations and cross examinations of all the witnesses, including Principal Witness (PW) 1, Miss Anita Efosa, the alleged victim, and then upheld the no-case submission filed by the defense counsel and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, maintaining that the evidence of the PW 1 (the nominal complainant) was not corroborated with the submissions of the other five prosecution witnesses.

The judge also maintained that the prosecution team further failed to tender the University Health Centre Medical Test Report as exhibit to the court during the trial because the result and findings therein obviously vitiated and negated their claims

In addition, Justice Itsueli held that the Report from Vivian Centre which was conducted a day after the alleged incident and tendered as evidence failed to scientifically show the evidence or proofs of rape.

She further held that the Vivian Medical Doctor who presented the report admitted before the court that there was no way sexual intercourse or rape could be established after 24 hours and so based his findings predominantly on the alleged victims oral history and claims.

Justice Itsueli maintained that the prosecution team could not establish the three main ingredients of rape which she listed to be penetration, sexual intercourse and no consent, adding that the penetration must be linked with the defendant and telltale signs of rape have to be shown in the medical report and the scene of alleged crime. These were not established in any way.

Justice Itsueli also relied on the indepth investigation by the Police and Investigation Officers (IPO) who examined both the accused and alleged victims physically and visited the scene of alleged rape.

According to the erudite jurist, the Police report stated clearly that there was no bruises on their bodies, no torn clothes and the office of the defendant said to have been broken into to rescue the girl is yet intact.

The Judge concluded that the whole thing was a clear set up, as in the Police report.

Citing plethora of legal authorities, Justice Itsueli averred that “the prosecution case is bereft of evidence. In a criminal case, the claimant is required to prove his/her case beyond all reasonable doubts. I found no reason to call the defendant to enter the dock for his defense. The No-Case Submission of the defense counsel is hereby upheld.

“The case is hereby dismissed for lack of evidence and the accused is discharged and acquitted”, Justice Itsueli ruled.

Metro

Job Seekers Protest Alleged Fake Employment Letters For Ondo Teaching Jobs

Published

7 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Hundreds of aggrieved job seekers on Friday staged a protest at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital, over alleged fake letters of employment issued to them for teaching positions in the state.

The protesters, who had applied for teaching jobs under the state’s civil service, barricaded the entrance to the Governor’s Office while demanding immediate inclusion in the ongoing biometric capturing exercise for newly recruited teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

According to the protesters’ claims, despite possessing ‘official-looking’ appointment letters purportedly issued by SUBEB and the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), their names were not included in the official list of successful candidates scheduled for the exercise.

While armed with placards of various inscriptions, the job seekers chanted solidarity songs and called on the state government to intervene.

A source said, “The affected members of the newly recruited teachers in Ondo State are protesting their disengagement from the capturing exercise due to backdoor appointment letters issued to them by unscrupulous directors of the personnel at SUBEB and TESCOM offices.”

In a reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed that the protesters had been scammed with fake appointment letters by some unknown people.

“People should please note that those who protested are not teachers but applicants who were duped by some individuals during the recruitment process.

“They all paid money to scammers who issued them fake letters of appointment.

“Those legitimately recruited by the government have been absorbed and have started working,” the CPS stated.

The government, however, maintained that the genuine recruitment exercise is being handled transparently and urged applicants to be wary of fraudsters exploiting the process.

Metro

Police Arrest Suspected Robber, Three Others With Firearm In Delta

Published

8 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Operatives of Safe Delta have arrested a 23-year-old suspected armed robber, Raphael Chukwuemeka, with a cut-to-size double-barrel pistol and seven live cartridges.

The suspect was apprehended along DBS Road, Asaba, Delta State, on September 9, 2025. He is now in police custody.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest in a statement.

The police spokesman said, “On September 9, 2025, operatives of Safe Delta, while on surveillance patrol along DBS Road, sighted a group of boys fighting and engaging in affray, one with a cutlass.”

According to SP Edafe, “The operatives swiftly went to the scene and, in the process, arrested Raphael Chukwuemeka, 23, with one cut-to-size double-barrel pistol with seven live cartridges recovered from him.”

He added, “The suspect was taken into custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”

In a separate incident, operatives of Safe Delta, while on stop-and-search duty at Head Bridge, Asaba, arrested three suspected armed robbers, Solomon Offor, 22, Ifesinachi Nwankeze, 19, and Ambrose Ugwuba, 23.

They were apprehended on September 10, 2025, at about 10:30 am.

Edafe confirmed, “Upon search of the suspects and the motorcycle, a locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, cartridges and a dagger concealed in a bag were recovered.”

Metro

Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

Published

11 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be cultists on Thursday night attacked a burial ceremony in Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing four persons and injuring about 15 others.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants, believed to be from a rival cult group, stormed the venue on motorcycles while family members were performing the burial rites.

They opened fire on mourners, sending others scampering for safety before fleeing the scene.

“The assailants suddenly invaded the scene of the burial on Thursday and opened fire at the gathering, targeting some people who were present.

“The family members of the deceased and other mourners were performing the burial rites in the compound, when they arrived at the scene and shot at the mourners, while others scampered to safety.

“They came in some motorcycles and after carrying out their deadly mission, immediately left the scene,” an indigene who was near the scene, who did not want his name in print, The told PUNCH.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the spokesman for the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, quickly responded, restored normalcy, and evacuated the victims to hospitals.

Ikenga said the Command has commenced a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, adding that preliminary findings suggested that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups.

He said, “Following a distress call in the late hours of September 11, 2025, that armed men suspected to be cultists invaded a burial ceremony at Ezi Village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, and opened fire on the attendees, resulting in the death of four persons while 15 others sustained serious injuries.

“Police operatives from Ogidi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilised to the scene, restored normalcy, and immediately evacuated the victims to hospitals for medical attention. In the course of the operation, 16 expended cartridges were recovered as exhibits.

“The Command has since launched a discreet investigation to identify, trace, and arrest the perpetrators, as preliminary findings suggest that the incident is connected to a clash between rival cult groups.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, has strongly condemned the incident and assured residents of the command’s resolve to rid the state of cult-related violence and other criminal activities.

“The Command urges members of the public to remain calm, security-conscious, and to continue to provide useful information by reporting suspicious movements or persons to the nearest Police formation.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” the statement added.

This latest incident comes months after The PUNCH reported that seven people, including five police officers, were killed in January when gunmen invaded a compound in Ihiala LGA during preparations for another burial.

It was gathered that the family members in the compound were making preparations for a burial ceremony scheduled to be held on January 2, 2025, when suddenly, the hoodlums invaded the place and started shooting sporadically, leading to the death of the victims.

The assailants were said to have opened fire at the gathering, targeting security operatives stationed near the local government headquarters as they fled the scene.

The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who visited the scene to condole with the families of the victims, announced a N10m bounty each for information leading to the capture of each of the gunmen responsible for the killing.