A 20-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Wednesday, narrated before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja how a 53-year-old lecturer, Samuel Ojogbo, allegedly assaulted her in his office at the institution’s Akoka campus.
The student, who testified as the first prosecution witness before Justice Oyindamola Ogala, gave a detailed account of the alleged incident while being led in evidence-in-chief by the prosecution counsel, A. O. Azeez.
Ojogbo is being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government on a two-count charge bordering on alleged rape and sexual assault.
Testifying in court, the witness identified herself simply as a student of the University of Lagos and told the court that the incident occurred on August 22, 2025, at about noon.
She recalled that a day before the incident, while she was writing an examination, the defendant approached her and initiated a conversation.
“On August 21, 2025, I was writing an exam not related to banking. I was seated in the first row when the defendant came in and asked if what I read was what came out. I told him yes, and that I understood a particular section better,” she said.
According to her, the lecturer thereafter asked her to visit his office after the examination.
The witness further disclosed that she made two attempts to see him after the exam but was unable to meet him in his office on both occasions.
She, however, told the court that on August 22, after concluding another examination, she encountered the defendant near her faculty while heading to her hostel.
“I was going to my hostel when I saw him. He signalled to me to wait while he was speaking with someone. After that, we went to his office together,” she stated.
Describing the office setting, the witness said it was located underground, with no windows or secretary.
She added that while they were inside, two female students briefly came in to see the lecturer over missed tests but were sent away.
“He told them to leave, saying they were disturbing him,” she said.
The witness told the court that shortly after the students left, the incident occurred.
“As they were leaving, they didn’t close the door properly. He asked me to close it. When I went to do that, he stood behind me and pushed me to a couch beside the door,” she said.
Narrating the incident amid visible emotion, the witness alleged that the defendant sexually assaulted her.
“He started touching me and forced himself on me,” she told the court.
She further alleged that after the incident, the lecturer made promises regarding her academic future.
“He said he would supervise my project in Year Four. He collected my exam docket, made a copy, returned one to me, and also took my phone number,” she added.
The witness said she left the office in tears and immediately reported the matter to a friend, after which they agreed to take further steps.
She told the court that she initially reported the incident to a lecturer in her department, who contacted her uncle, also a lecturer, before they escalated the matter to the Head of Department.
According to her, the Head of Department questioned her claim and asked for evidence.
“He asked if what I said was true and where the evidence was. He even asked why I didn’t record it on my phone,” she said.
She added that when the defendant was invited to the HOD’s office, he denied the allegation.
“The HOD then advised that we should let it go and that I should be more careful when dealing with lecturers alone,” she stated.
Dissatisfied with the response, the witness said her uncle insisted on pursuing the matter further, leading them to report to the institution’s Servicom office.
She disclosed that she was subsequently taken to the medical centre for examination and given medication.
The witness further told the court that the case was later reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, which referred her to the police.
“I was referred to Bariga Police Station and later to WARIF for another test,” she said, adding that the matter was eventually transferred to the Gender Unit of the police command for investigation.
She also informed the court that there were attempts by the defendant’s associates to resolve the matter out of court.
“After all these, the defendant’s family and friends started calling for a meeting,” she said.
Following her testimony, Justice Ogala adjourned the case till April 27, 2026, for cross-examination of the witness.