University Of Lagos Lecturer Accused Of Rape Pleads For Protection From Hostile Media

A University of Lagos lecturer, Mr. Afeez Baruwa, allegedly accused of raping an 18-year-old girl, yesterday pleaded with a Lagos magistrate’s court, Agege, to protect him from “hostile” media reportage.

The 42-year-old lecturer in the Department of Accounting was alleged to have raped the girl in July, as she sought help to get admission into the university.

The defendant’s counsel, Mr. Kunle Abimbola, who brought along three copies of The Punch newspaper, told the court that the newspaper had engaged in a campaign of false reportage against the lecturer.

He said: “It has come to a case where we have to seek the ultimate protection of the defendant from the press; he is still presumed innocent until proved guilty.”

At the last hearing, the defence lawyer sought a bail for his client, claiming that he was “critically ill” in detention and needed urgent medical care.

Mrs. Ibukun Ibikunle, a lawyer, holding a “watching brief” for the rape victim’s family, had countered the defence lawyer’s claim, saying she spoke with prison officials and there was no report of illness.

Ibikunle, who works with the state’s Office of the Public Defender, said he had spoken with prison officials that day and was told the accused did not show up when they were leaving the prison.

On Monday, the defence lawyer accused The Punch of “scandalising and tarnishing the image” of Mr. Baruwa. Mr. Abimbola said: “The defendant is being tried and convicted in the media, which runs against Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It still remains an allegation; the defendant is still presumed not guilty.”

“I urge the magistrate to call the newspaper to order over the ‘false’ report.”

Mr. Ibikunle, told the magistrate that the defendant’s wife, Kafayat, had submitted a sworn affidavit to show that the defendant is indeed ill.

“I plead with my lord to come to the aid of the defendant because the impression in the eye of the objective members of the public is that the defendant committed the offence which has not been proven. “While opposing the defendant’s claims, Mrs. Ibikunle said that the media reported the events of the last court’s proceedings accurately.

Nationa mirror reportage.

*I laugh!