Ibe Pascal Arogorn
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and
Domestic Violence Court on
Monday sentenced John Otema,
an alumnus of the University of
Lagos , to 50-years
imprisonment for raping a 19-
year-old student of the
institution.
The News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) reports that 34-year-old
Mr Otema, a quantity surveyor
and facilities manager, was
charged before Justice Abiola
Soladoye with three counts of
rape and assault occasioning
harm on two female students.
He was found guilty on two-
counts of rape and assault
occasioning harm in respect of
the rape of the 19-year-old
student (Student X). He was,
however, found not guilty on a
charge of raping a 20-year-old
student (Student Y) of the
institution.
He bagged 50-years in prison
for the rape and three-years in
prison for the assault on student
X with both sentences to run
concurrently.
In absolving Mr Otema of
raping student Y, Justice
Soladoye noted that the
demeanor of student Y in her
testimony was mischievous and
she would not have claimed that
she was raped if Mr Otema had
paid her the N50, 000 agreed
upon before their rendezvous.
The judge quoted a portion of
student Y’s testimony which
stated, “With intention to scare
him off, I asked him for
N100,000 but he said he will
give me N50,000.
“I gave him my account number but he did
not credit my account. Friendship with
benefits was the crux of our relationship.”
The judge described student Y as a game
player who had embarked on a sexual frolic.
“The defendant, John Osagie Otema in
respect of count-one (rape) is found not
guilty as there is overwhelming evidence
before the court that sexual intercourse
between the defendant and PW2 (Student Y)
was consensual as it was friendship with
benefits,” she said.
In convicting Mr Otema of rape and assault
occasioning harm of student X, Justice
Soladoye noted that in addition to medical
evidence and photographs tendered by the
prosecution, student X had also identified
the defendant as her assailant who bit her
back and punched her eyes.
“For count-two (rape), the defendant is
found guilty and is hereby sentenced to 50-
years in prison as the evidence adduced
before this court has been proved beyond
reasonable doubt by the prosecution.
“With regard to count-three (assault
occasioning harm) the defendant is found
guilty and is hereby sentenced to three-years
in prison as the prosecution has done its job
diligently by proving the charge beyond
reasonable doubt.”
The judge decried the spate of sexual
violence committed against women and girls.
“This State of Excellence has zero tolerance
for this sort of crime and the punishment
meted out to the defendant will serve as a
deterrent to other sex offenders that they too
will be caught and brought to justice.
“Women and girls like every other member
of the society should be respected and not be
into prey by sex maniacs,” she said.
Earlier the defence counsel, Fred Onyeka, in
his plea for mercy, said that Mr Otema is a
young man with aged parents who also had his whole life ahead of him
“He had the misfortune of this matter
coming upon him not long after he left
UNILAG. He had a good job before this
incident occurred and was destined for the
very top of his career.
“What has happened will definitely truncate
the prospects of his rise to the top of his
career if my lord’s intervention in
sentencing him does not happen,” Mr
Onyeka said.
NAN reports that during the trial, six
witnesses – the two students, a policewoman,
Nkem Ejelonu and three UNILAG staff
members — testified for the prosecution.
Mr Otema testified solely in his defence.
During his testimony he denied committing
the offences.
According to the prosecution led by Arinola
Momoh-Ayokanbi, Mr Otema had sexual
intercourse with the student Y without her
consent on January 31, 2018 at his home at
No. 6, Ajileye St., Bariga, Lagos.
The prosecution claimed that earlier that
month, Mr Otema had raped student X
within the premises of the institution.
“On Jan. 17, 2018 while coming from her
hostel to Moremi Hall, Otema parked his car
and asked student X for directions to
Moremi Hall. He compelled her to enter the
car under the guise of giving her a ride.
“He auto-locked his car and drove her to the
Distant Learning Institute (DLI) area where
he assaulted her by punching her face
several times, he bit her back, ordered her to
undress and took her nude photos.
The offences contravene Sections 173 and
260(1)(2) of the Criminal Code, Law of
Lagos State 2015..
