A 20-year-old student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday recounted how he was allegedly raped by her lecturer, Samuel Obinna Ojogbo, in his office.
The student gave her testimony before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial.
The Lagos State Government is prosecuting the 53-year-old lecturer on two counts of rape and sexual assault.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, A.O. Azeez, the witness said the incident occurred on August 22, 2025, around noon at the university’s Akoka campus.
Introducing herself, she told the court she is a student of the University of Lagos.
She recounted that a day before the incident, while writing an examination, the defendant approached her and asked about the paper.
“He asked if what I read came out, and I told him yes,” she said, adding that he later asked her to see him in his office after the exam.
She told the court that she made two attempts to meet him after the exam but did not find him in his office.
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On August 22, she said she had another examination scheduled between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm, with the defendant in charge.
After the exam, she said she met him near her faculty while heading to her hostel.
“He signalled to me to wait while he was speaking with someone. After that, we went to his office together,” she said.
Describing the office, she said it was located underground, without windows or a secretary.
While they were inside, she said two female students briefly entered to see the lecturer about missed tests, but were asked to leave.
According to her, the incident happened shortly after.
“As they were leaving, the door wasn’t properly closed. He asked me to shut it. When I turned to close the door, he came behind me and pushed me onto a couch,” she said.
Fighting back tears, the witness told the court that the lecturer touched her and then forced himself on her.
“He raped me,” she said.
She further alleged that after the incident, the defendant made promises about her academic future.
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“He said he would supervise my project in Year Four. He collected my exam docket, made a copy, returned one to me, and took my phone number,” she added.
The student said she left the office in tears and immediately informed a friend, after which they agreed to report the matter.
She said she first reported to a lecturer in her department, who contacted her uncle, also a lecturer, before they approached the Head of Department.
According to her, when they reported the case, the Head of Department questioned her claims and asked for evidence, including why she did not record the incident.
She said the HOD invited the defendant, who denied the allegation.
“The HOD told us to let it go and advised me to be more careful when alone with lecturers,” she said.
Unsatisfied, her uncle insisted they pursue the matter further.
She said they reported to the university’s SERVICOM office, after which she was taken to the medical centre for examination and given medication.
The witness told the court that she later reported the case to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which referred her to the police.
She said she was first taken to the Bariga Police Station and later to WARIF for further medical examination.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Gender Unit of the police command for investigation.
She also told the court that the defendant’s family and associates later reached out in an attempt to settle the matter.
Justice Ogala adjourned proceedings until April 27, 2026, for cross-examination.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.