Edo State High Court, Benin, presided over by Justice Mary Itsueli, yesterday discharged and acquitted of alleged rape, a lecturer in the Department of English and Literature of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), in Benin, Dr. Bode Ekundayo, three years after.
Ekundayo, an Associate Professor, was alleged to have demanded sex for marks from a 21-year-old, 400-level student, Miss Anita Adesuwa Efosa, on October 5, 2021.
The youthful lecturer was accused of raping Efosa in his office at UNIBEN’s Faculty Complex during the day, thereby queried and interdicted by the management of the university, which has as Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, pending the investigation of the allegation by the police and the court’s judgment.
Ekundayo was immediately arrested, detained for some weeks, and arraigned for alleged rape, but he was later granted bail on stringent conditions.
He was, however, discharged and acquitted for lack of substantial proof and evidence against him, in the suit with reference number: B/CD/8CV/22.
Justice Itsueli stressed that the prosecution team failed completely to prove the case against the don beyond reasonable doubt.
The presiding judge noted that even if anyone was to believe the claims of the alleged victim in their face value, there was no substantial proof or evidence whatsoever to establish sexual intercourse or rape.
Justice Itsueli upheld the no-case submission filed by the defense/lecturer’s counsel, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, a former Edo Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.