Lagos State Government Insists On Continuous Trial Of Suspects Despite Victims Appeal For Withdrawal

The Lagos State Government says it will still continue with the trial of Don-Chima George and Olusegun Rasaq, both dropouts from Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo in Ogun State, who were accused of rape in February this year.

A 24-year-old lady had accused the duo of spiking her glass of Hennessey and Coca-cola at the Kabaal Night club in Ikoyi, Lagos and then took her to the De-Lankaster Hotel in Lekki owned by George’s father, where she lost consciousness and was subsequently raped. The rape was filmed.

At the resumed hearing of the case at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday June 13th, the lady asked for the case to be withdrawn in a letter written to the presiding judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye.

In the letter dated June 3rd and addressed to the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), the victim said her decision for the case to be withdrawn is based on “intervention of family members” and for the sake of her integrity. Read here.

At the start of proceedings on the case today Tuesday June 18th, the Deputy-Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in Lagos state, AKin George, told the court that the state government will still continue the prosecution of the defendants despite the victims notice for a withdrawal of the case. According to Akin,

“At the last adjourned date, my lord said that the state should get feedback from the Ministry of Justice on how to proceed with this case.

The instruction from the Solicitor-General and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice is that we should go ahead with the prosecution. The witness is already in the box and she should continue with her evidence,” he said.

While being cross examined by the counsel to the suspects, Tunji Ayanlaja, tthe victim denied claims that herself and her family demand for N50 million from the parents of the defendants’ to withdraw her allegations of rape. She also denied making false allegations against the defendants when payments for the alleged N50 million were not met.

Narrating how she was raped and filmed, the victim said:-

“I had half a medium sized glass of Hennessey and Coca-cola. I had a clear head to take care of Foluso, my friend, who was drunk.

It was surprising that I slept thereafter as I knew I was not going to sleep because I had slept earlier during the day. Like I said during the last court proceeding, I went upstairs to take my friend Foluso from the reception to Chima’s room upstairs”.

The counsel to the defendant appeal for the judge to grant them bail but this was denied. The judge insisted that the April ruling of the court in which the suspects were denied bail still stands.

She adjourned the case to October 9th for the continuation of trial.

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