Alleged Sexual Assault: UNILAG student gives emotional testimony against lecturer in court

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday heard gripping testimony from a 20-year-old University of Lagos undergraduate who accused a lecturer of sexually assaulting her within his office on the institution’s Akoka campus.

The student appeared before Justice Oyindamola Ogala as the first prosecution witness in the trial of Samuel Obinna Ojogbo, a lecturer charged by the Lagos State Government with rape and sexual assault.

While being led in evidence by the state counsel, A.O. Azeez, the witness narrated how her interaction with the defendant began during an examination on August 21, 2025, when he reportedly approached her and asked her to see him in his office afterwards.

She told the court that she was unable to meet him that day despite making efforts, but encountered him the following day after another examination, when he beckoned her and led her to his office.

Describing the setting, the witness said the office was in a secluded area. She explained that their discussion was briefly interrupted by two students, who were subsequently dismissed by the lecturer.

Moments later, she alleged that the lecturer made inappropriate advances towards her, culminating in a sexual assault.

The witness further claimed that after the incident, the defendant made assurances regarding her academic future and collected her contact information.

She told the court that she left the office in distress and immediately reported the incident to a friend, after which she initiated formal complaints within the university system.

According to her, the matter was first taken to a lecturer in her department, who alerted her relative, also an academic, before both of them escalated the issue to the Head of Department.

She said the initial response was not encouraging, prompting further escalation through other institutional channels and external agencies.

The student added that she underwent medical examination at the university’s health facility and was later referred to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which directed her case to the police.

READ ALSO

She noted that the case was eventually transferred to the Gender Unit of the police command for investigation, adding that some individuals later approached her in a bid to resolve the matter out of court.

The defendant has denied the allegations.

Justice Ogala adjourned the proceedings till April 27, 2026, for continuation of trial and cross-examination of the witness.