A student of Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, whose name was withheld, has provided a detailed account of an incident involving Oyetayo Olakotan James and another male student in what he described as an intimate situation, which sparked tension within the campus community.
According to the witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident occurred in February when he had visited a course mate when he unexpectedly entered a room and discovered Oyetayo Olakotan James and another male student in an intimate situation.
He said “I was shocked at what I saw,” the witness explained. “I didn’t expect it at all. I immediately left the room and went to report the matter to the school authorities.”
Following the report, the situation quickly escalated. The school management began searching for the students involved, and word spread rapidly across the campus.
The witness further stated that other students soon became aware of the situation. Some of them raised alarm, which drew attention from both students and people in the surrounding community.
“As more people heard about it, a crowd started gathering,” he said. “The situation became very tense. People were shouting, and there was confusion everywhere.”
According to additional accounts from other students whose names are being withheld, the gathering quickly turned chaotic and posed a serious threat. There were growing fears that the situation could result in mob action, commonly referred to as jungle justice.
“It was getting out of hand,” the witness added. “People were angry, and anything could have happened at that moment.”
At the time of the incident, it is important to note that same-sex relationships are criminalized under Nigerian law. The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2014, particularly Section 4, provides that any person who engages in a same-sex amorous relationship or publicly shows such relationship commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of up to 14 years. The law also criminalizes the registration, operation, or participation in gay clubs, societies, and organizations.
Beyond the legal framework, prevailing cultural norms also play a significant role. In traditional Yoruba society, same-sex relationships are widely regarded as unacceptable and contrary to established moral and cultural values. This cultural stance often contributes to strong community reactions in situations of this nature.
Amid the confusion and unrest, Oyetayo Olakotan James reportedly managed to escape before the situation escalated further.
Further background information gathered about Oyetayo Olakotan James reveals that he was raised in a strict Christian household in Nigeria. According to sources familiar with his personal history, his upbringing was governed by rigid religious doctrines that emphasized abstinence from anything considered immoral.
It was also gathered that he spent much of his childhood and adolescence in boarding schools due to his father’s strict nature. Sources indicate that his early life was marked by fear and limited emotional support, particularly as he struggled privately with his identity from a young age.
Following the incident, and fearing for his safety due to both institutional consequences and possible family reaction, he reportedly fled the residence and did not return home. It is understood that news of the incident had already reached members of his family.
According to information obtained, he sought temporary refuge with a family acquaintance in an unknown location. From there, arrangements were made for him to leave the country.
There was a rumor that he departed Nigeria in the same month as the incident to an unknown country as at the time of making this report.
