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56-year-old driver bags life jail for raping employer’s granddaughter

Published

3 years ago

July 11, 2023

Special offences court

56-year-old driver bags life jail for raping employer’s granddaughter

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos State, on Monday, sentenced a 56-year-old driver, Folarin Rauf, to life imprisonment for defiling his employer’s five-year-old granddaughter in the state.

Justice Abiola Soladoye handed down the sentence after finding the convict guilty of the offence of defilement.

Rauf was arraigned on November 30, 2021, on one count of defilement and he pleaded not guilty.

The offence committed contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The judge held that the prosecution led by Abimbola Abolade proved the three ingredients of defilement and that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the minor and that the consent of the child was immaterial.

She said,” The prosecution has satisfied the three ingredients and the evidence of the victim corroborated the evidence of the other witnesses. The testimony of the victim was well corroborated by the mother and grandfather before it was reported to the authorities.

“The defence in their written address urged the court to discharge the defendant as there was no evidence against him. The conduct of the defendant is nasty, devoid of character, reckless and his ‘own way’ of saying thank you to his employer was to defile his granddaughter,” the judge said.

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During the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses including the victim and tendered two documents while the defendant testified as sole witness for himself.

The victim, who testified on August 5, 2022, told the court that she was six years old at the time of giving evidence before the court.

She said her grandfather’s driver had sex with her severally at her grandfather’s living room and in the Jeep on the premises and that she had lost the number of counts that he raped her.

She testified that on one of the occasions, she was playing with her friend when the driver asked the friend to leave and he inserted his penis in her private parts.

The victim said Rauf threatened her not to tell anybody but that she later told her grandfather that the convict raped her.

During cross-examination, the victim told the court that the driver takes her to school and also drops her grandfather at work.

The second prosecution witness, a 70-year-old insurance practitioner, identified only as Oyenuga, who is the grandfather of the victim, said his granddaughter was raped by his driver at his residence in Lagos State.

He said, “I was with an electrician from the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company to fix some cables when the victim and her younger cousin came out of the house and went toward the car.

“The defendant made the boy leave and took my granddaughter into the car. My granddaughter later came to my room to whisper in my ears. She said, ‘grandpa, I have something to tell you,’ and she told me to bring my ears closer.

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“She whispered that the defendant cuddled her to his chest, kissed her, brought out his penis and inserted it into her vagina. I confronted the defendant the following day and asked him if he wants to marry a new wife, is it my granddaughter that he intends to marry?”

Oyenuga said he replied that he only kissed her, adding that he discussed the issue with his daughters and they decided to report the case to the Ikeja Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency.

He said, “My granddaughter revealed more details to the agency that interviewed her and made drawings to describe the position of the defendant and her while in the car.”

The victim’s grandfather further testified that the agency gave them a letter to conduct a test on the child at the Women at Risk International Foundation, adding that a representative at the WARIF directed them to go to the police command headquarters in Ikeja as the result could not be given to the family.

“We reported the case at the Ojodu Police Station and statements were made and he was arraigned at the Agege Magistrates’ Court. The driver takes my granddaughter and her cousin to school, and one of my daughters would also accompany them,” Oyenuga said.

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Justice Soladoye said the third witness was a 40-year-old insurance broker, the victim’s mother and the medical report also corroborated the evidence of PW 2 and PW1.

“He stated that he resumes duty at 7am from Monday to Friday. The convict was a pathological liar who tried to deter himself from the charge as he claimed not to understand English Language but he responded as the court registrar read out the charge in English.

“The defendant denied having sexual intercourse with the victim but told the court he only planted kisses on her cheeks and cuddled her. Under cross-examination, he denied making any statement at the Ojodu Police Station but the same statement was tendered and admitted in evidence as exhibit B. He lied to the face of the court,” the judge said.

Justice Soladoye urged parents and guardians to desist from entrusting their children to the care of “good for nothing staff” so that they would not be sexually violated.

“The need for supervision at all times cannot be over-emphasised in this age and time where sexual abuse is being perpetrated. Furthermore, children should be trained to speak up and report any such sexual violations against such persons to their parents, teachers or authorities so that they can be properly investigated,” She said.

56-year-old driver bags life jail for raping employer’s granddaughter

metro

Wike Clarifies ‘Shoot’ Remark About TV Anchor

Published

45 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike

Wike Clarifies ‘Shoot’ Remark About TV Anchor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has moved to quell the controversy trailing his recent remarks about Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television, insisting that his comments were taken out of context and never intended as a threat.

Wike had sparked public outrage after stating during a media engagement that he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” the television anchor over comments suggesting that a one-party system could undermine Nigeria’s democracy. The remark drew swift condemnation from civil society groups, including Amnesty International, which described the statement as “reckless and violent.”

However, in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the minister said the comment was merely a figure of speech expressed in anger and not a literal threat.

According to the statement, Wike had already clarified his position during the same live television programme where the remark was made, stressing that he had no intention whatsoever of harming Okinbaloye.

“The minister never meant that he would shoot Seun Okinbaloye,” the statement read. “They even spoke on the phone today, and he (Okinbaloye) clearly understood what the minister meant.”

Olayinka explained that Wike’s frustration stemmed from what he perceived as a departure from journalistic neutrality by the anchor, whom he said the minister holds in high regard.

“What the minister meant, which he made clear during the media chat, was that he was displeased seeing Okinbaloye—whom he respects as a journalist—descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, rather than maintaining the role of an interviewer,” the statement added.

The aide further described the controversial remark as “hyperbolic,” noting that it was an exaggeration used to emphasise the minister’s displeasure and not an expression of violent intent.

He also pointed out that other journalists present during the interview, including Chamberlain Uzor, reportedly treated the comment lightly, with laughter following Wike’s clarification on air.

“Even after the minister explained himself during the live programme, including stating clearly that he did not mean he would carry a gun to shoot the anchor, the context was well understood by those present,” Olayinka said.

The statement accused critics of deliberately misrepresenting the minister’s words for political purposes, warning against what it described as attempts to weaponise the comment for “blackmail and propaganda.”

“The public is therefore urged to disregard attempts by individuals or groups to twist the minister’s statement out of context in pursuit of political gains,” the statement concluded.

The incident has continued to generate debate within Nigeria’s media and political space, raising broader concerns about the tone of public discourse and the responsibilities of public officials in their engagements with the press.

Wike Clarifies ‘Shoot’ Remark About TV Anchor

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Autopsy Confirms Destiny Boy Died from Toxic Substances

Published

3 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Afrofuji singer Afeez Adesina, popularly known as Destiny Boy

Autopsy Confirms Destiny Boy Died from Toxic Substances

The tragic death of 22-year-old Afrofuji singer Afeez Adesina, popularly known as Destiny Boy, has been clarified following the release of his official autopsy report. The findings confirm that toxic substances, including tramadol and methamphetamine, were present in his system and played a critical role in his untimely passing.

Destiny Boy passed away on January 17, 2026, a loss that sparked intense speculation on social media, with videos circulating showing his body being transported to a mortuary. These clips fueled public concern and rumours about the circumstances of his death. (pmnewsnigeria.com)

According to the Ogun State Police Command, the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) carried out the autopsy. The toxicology report detected dangerous levels of tramadol, its metabolites, and methamphetamine in Destiny Boy’s body. The official cause of death was determined to be aspiration pneumonitis, a severe lung inflammation resulting from the ingestion of these substances. (lindaikejisblog.com)

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DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that at least one suspect has been arrested in connection with the singer’s death and that investigations are ongoing. The police emphasized that the case remains under careful examination to determine all contributing factors.

Destiny Boy, who first gained recognition in 2019 for his Fuji rendition of Davido’s “If”, later covered popular tracks by Tekno, 2Baba, 9ice, and Small Doctor. His original songs, including Lamba, One Transaction, Gbese, Billion Dollar, Mio Gbonkankan, and Lowkey, solidified his rising fame in Nigeria’s music industry. He also welcomed his first child with partner Iremide in November 2024.

The autopsy report has provided much-needed clarity after months of uncertainty and public debate surrounding Destiny Boy’s sudden death, highlighting the dangers of substance misuse among young entertainers. Fans and industry colleagues have expressed deep sorrow while advocating for awareness on drug safety and mental health support in the entertainment industry. (tell.ng)

Autopsy Confirms Destiny Boy Died from Toxic Substances

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DHQ Reveals Over 60% of Terrorist Fighters Not Ideologically Driven

Published

3 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC)

DHQ Reveals Over 60% of Terrorist Fighters Not Ideologically Driven

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that more than 60 percent of terrorists and armed fighters in Nigeria are not motivated by ideology, but are individuals who were coerced, abducted, or caught up in conflict dynamics. The military says this highlights the need for tailored deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes to address insecurity across the country.

Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), revealed during a press briefing in Abuja that many individuals surrendering from armed groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter factions are low-risk combatants often forced into violent networks due to survival, economic pressures, or coercion. According to OPSC data, thousands of former fighters have been successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated into society since the programme’s inception in 2016.

Launched in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor is a federal government-led non-kinetic counter-insurgency programme coordinated by the DHQ in collaboration with agencies including the Ministry of Justice and Nigeria Police. The initiative encourages voluntary surrender, provides deradicalisation training, and facilitates reintegration into civilian life.

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General Ali emphasised that the programme is evolving to address regional realities and cater to the specific needs of affected communities. He said new plans include establishing Victims’ Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camps in the North-West and North-Central regions, such as the DRR camp in Tsafe, Zamfara State, and a planned facility in Benue, to help victims of violent extremism recover from trauma, displacement, and loss.

“The programme is evolving to become more victim-sensitive,” Ali said. “Sustainable peace cannot be achieved if victims of conflict feel neglected. Many live with deep psychological scars, and addressing that trauma is as important as rehabilitating ex-combatants.”

The OPSC Coordinator also stressed that misconceptions about the programme persist. He clarified that OPSC is not amnesty, not a shortcut to evade justice, and not a recruitment pathway into the Armed Forces. The government is working to enhance public understanding through stakeholder engagement, media campaigns, and partnerships with agencies such as the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.

Experts say that understanding that the majority of fighters are not ideologically committed could help shape more effective deradicalisation and reintegration strategies, addressing root causes like coercion, poverty, lack of education, and social exclusion. The DHQ’s findings underscore the importance of combining military operations with community-focused rehabilitation to achieve lasting peace in conflict-affected regions.

DHQ Reveals Over 60% of Terrorist Fighters Not Ideologically Driven