A former part-time lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (now Lagos State University of Education), Kolawole Muyiwa, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for rape by the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
Delivering the judgment, on the 27th of February, 2025, Justice Rahman Oshodi ruled that the prosecution had established the case of defilement beyond a reasonable doubt.
The crime took place on the 11th of October, 2021, within the college premises in Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos State.
During the trial, the survivor testified that she had arrived early for a departmental meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. when the defendant approached her, asking her to buy him food. She declined due to her pending meeting.
The court noted that after the survivor agreed to follow him to retrieve a flask for the food purchase, he led her into his office.
“When they got inside, the defendant said he no longer wanted food but needed help marking some examination scripts. She added that the defendant went outside, returned, and locked the passage gate and office door.”
She stated that the defendant then asked if she had a boyfriend, to which she replied no.
“He suddenly pushed me down the plastic chair I was sitting on, overpowered me, and forcefully removed my trousers. I was menstruating at the time, and he removed my sanitary pad and had forceful sexual intercourse with me.”
After the assault, she recounted his chilling words:
“What you refused to give me willingly, I have taken by force.”
Kolawole Muyiwa was arraigned on the 6th of October, 2023, and pleaded not guilty.
However, in his testimony, he claimed that on the day of the incident, he had merely come to record and submit a script when he met the survivor, who offered to help carry his bag.
READ ALSO:Â Lecturer on Trial for Alleged Student Rape
He stated that he asked if she could assist with recording scores, and she agreed but informed him about her upcoming meeting.
Inside his office, he admitted to asking the survivor for a relationship, insisting that what he meant was:
“To be together, to talk, relate with one another, but not for sexual relationship.”
He denied raping her.
His defense counsel, Dr. G.O. Erenta, urged the court to discharge and acquit him, arguing that the survivor’s testimony was fabricated and lacked corroborating evidence.
However, Justice Oshodi disagreed, stating that her account was consistent with that of the legal practitioner and the investigating police officer (IPO).
In his verdict, Justice Oshodi declared: “Kolawole Muyiwa, I have found you guilty of rape contrary to Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Chapter 17, Volume Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
The judge acknowledged that the defendant had no prior criminal record, was married with three children, and had served as a part-time lecturer.
However, he emphasized the gravity of the offense: “As a part-time lecturer, you occupied the position of trust and authority which you abused. The victim was a student at the institution where you taught.”
He concluded by affirming the legal punishment: “Section 260 of the criminal law describes life imprisonment punishment for your crime, and that is what I shall sentence you to. You shall also be registered as a sex offender.”
With that, Kolawole Muyiwa was sentenced to life behind bars, marking a grim end to a case of betrayal and justice.