Court docks Kwara varsity lecturer over alleged sexual harassment

By SAKA Laaro, Ilorin

A lecturer of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete was on Tuesday arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin.

The suspect, Pelumi Adewole was arrested by the men of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) over offences bordering on Criminal Intimidation, Sexual Harassment and Examination Malpractices among others.

The offences contravened sections 397, 95 of Penal Code Law and Section 3(320) of the Examination Malpractices Act CAP E15 Law Of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The Kwara State Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) was also a party in the case.

Its President, Barrister Grace Okoduwa said that the suspect just wedded in June.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) a petition dated 15th October, 2021 was written by one Adegunsoye Faith Tosin, a student of Department of Pure and Applied Science.

Adegunsoye alleged that sometimes in September, 2021, Adewole who is a lecturer assigned to teach her a course MLS 212 Cell and Molecular Biology called her and threatened to fail her in her forthcoming exams if she refused to have sexual intercourse with him.

Due to the threat issued by the defendant, the Police instructed Miss Adegunsoye to play along with him in order to obtain raw evidence.

The lecturer thereafter lured the student into his bedroom apartment around 8:30pm at Taoheed Road, Basin Area, Ilorin where he gave her a new question paper and answer script of KWASU to rewrite her exam with promise to have sexual intercourse with her till day break.

The suspect was however apprehended in the process by the detectives from SIB who were hiding at a distance location.

He was said to have confessed to the allegations during the course of investigation.

However, in his remarks, the suspect denied the allegations.

Prosecutor, Nasiru Yusuf in his submission told the court that the offences were not bailable adding that sexual harassment has become rampant in the society.

He urged the court to deny the accused bail.

But the lead Defense counsel, Barrister A.J Opalekunde said the defendant is still presume innocent until proven guilty and sought bail for his client.

In his ruling, Presiding Magistrate Ibrahim Mohammed however obliged the application of the Defense and granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000.

He thereafter adjourned the case till December 8th, 2021 for further mention.