metro
Edo court acquits UNIBEN lecturer of rape allegations
Edo court acquits UNIBEN lecturer of rape allegations
After a three-year legal battle, an Edo State High Court on Friday discharged and acquitted University of Benin (UNIBEN) lecturer, Dr. Omowumi ‘Labode Steven, of alleged sexual assault and rape of a 400-level female student of the institution.
Steven, also known as Dr. Bode Steve Ekundayo, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Literature at the university.
He had been accused of sexually assaulting a final-year female student of the department in his office on 5 October 2021.
Following the allegations, UNIBEN management issued Ekundayo a query and placed him on interdiction pending the case’s conclusion in court.
He was subsequently arrested and arraigned for sexual assault but later released on bail under stringent conditions.
Edo Court acquits UNIBEN lecturer Ekundayo of rape, dismisses case on lack of proof
In her ruling on suit B/CD/8CV/22, Presiding Judge Justice Mary Itsueli noted that the prosecution failed to substantiate its case.
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Justice Itsueli upheld the “no case submission” filed by the defence counsel, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Edo State, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, asserting that the testimony of the complainant (PW1) lacked corroboration from the remaining five prosecution witnesses.
The judge also highlighted that the prosecution did not present the University of Benin Teaching Hospital’s (UBTH) medical report as evidence during the trial.
Justice Itsueli observed that the prosecution team could not establish the three key elements of rape: penetration, sexual intercourse, and lack of consent, and that there was no evidence linking the alleged penetration to the defendant.
She further ruled that the police had not conducted a thorough investigation before pressing charges.
“The prosecution case is bereft of evidence, and in a criminal case, the claimant is required to prove his/her case beyond reasonable doubt,” said Justice Itsueli.
“I found no reason to call the defendant to enter the dock for his defence. The defence counsel’s no case submission is hereby upheld. The case is hereby dismissed for lack of evidence, and the accused is discharged and acquitted,” she concluded.
Edo court acquits UNIBEN lecturer of rape allegations
metro
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
metro
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
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