The Osun State Ministry of Justice has taken over prosecution of the case of a 29-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Fasade Ezekiel Adesoji, who, allegedly, sexually assaulted a female undergraduate of Osun State University, Osogbo .
The Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Police Command arraigned Adesoji, who is currently observing his one-year NYSC programme in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly assaulting the student when he travelled to Osogbo.
The female victim (name withheld) was said to have gone to Soji’s room behind Nawarudeen Primary School, Oke-Baale area, Osogbo Local Council of the state, to put some fruits in his fridge when Adesoji, who was her neighbour, forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
The Guardian learnt that the student lived off-campus and had gone to Adesoji’s apartment with her friend on the night of Friday, February 16, 2024.
After the two ladies got into the suspect’s place, the victim’s friend reportedly left the room immediately after plugging her phone to attend to other things. But as she could return to check her phone, she heard her friend screaming in the room, as Adesoji, also known as SOJ, allegedly assaulted her twice.
The corps member allegedly threatened to kill the victim with a bottle if she failed to let him have his way.
It was further learnt that the suspect refused to open his door when neighbours banged on it repeatedly and tried to rescue the lady.
According to a witness account, it was after a vigilante officer in the area had visited the defendant’s apartment with a gun and shot into the air, that the suspect opened the door and freed the victim in the wee hours of Saturday, February 17.
A team of policemen later arrived at the scene and arrested Soji.
The police docked Adesoji, a Microbiology graduate of Igbajo Polytechnic on a four count-charge bordering on sexual assault, indecent assault, and unlawful detainment of the victim at an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court.
The charge indicated that Adesoji allegedly assaulted the lady on February 16, at about 9:00 p.m., at the Oke-Baale area, Osogbo, indecently assaulted her and also detained her against her consent with the purpose of forcefully having carnal knowledge of her.
According to the charge, the accused person committed the offences contrary to and punishable under Section 2(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Osun State 2021; Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Laws of Osun State 2007; Sections 360 and 361 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002 .
However, Adesoji pleaded not guilty to all the counts. His counsel, L. O. Akinwande, prayed the court to admit him to bail and assured that he would make available reliable sureties. He informed the court that Adesoji was a serving corps member in Kwara State.
Magistrate Oyindamola Daramola granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the same amount.
She said one of the sureties must be a homeowner while the other must be a biological parent or sibling of the defendant who must bear the same surname with him.
When the matter was mentioned for hearing recently, a counsel from the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Clement Tanimose, announced to the court that the ministry would be taking over the matter from the police for prosecution.
Consequently, Daramola ordered that the police hand over the case file to the ministry.
