An Assistant Superintendent of Police, Babatunde Ashifat, on Tuesday, at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, narrated how a man, Jelili Lawal, raped a septuagenarian to death
According to The PUNCH, the witness, Ashifat, was presented as the primary witness by the state counsel, Ms. Bukola Okeowo, and shared the details of his involvement in the case, which he began investigating on January 2, 2019.
According to Ashifat, the case came to the police’s attention through a report filed by an officer on patrol duty.
The incident was brought to light by two concerned citizens, two women who had witnessed the defendant allegedly sexually assaulting the elderly victim.
As per Ashifat’s testimony, the tragic event unfolded on January 1, 2019, in the Maryland area of Lagos.
The septuagenarian had apparently appealed to the accused for assistance in finding her way back home, leading to the disturbing turn of events that culminated in her unfortunate demise.
He said: “The defendant gave her N500 and they boarded the same bus together.
“On getting to a bus stop, the defendant told her to come down at the Shoprite and took her to an uncompleted building in a bushy area, assaulted and raped her in the middle of the night.
“The victim was crying for help when two ladies heard her and caught the defendant in the act.
“They helped the woman by calling a patrol officer and the matter was reported at our station.”
Ashifat went on to detail in court that the purported victim, who had preexisting ear issues and had been reported missing by her family, suffered injuries as a result of the sexual assault.
He further revealed that, tragically, the alleged victim succumbed to the incident, with her demise attributed to severe bleeding caused by the assault.
“The victim was bleeding in her anus and vagina and I issued a medical form for her to be taken to Mirabel Medical Centre.
“The medical doctor who examined her confirmed that there was a forceful penetration on the vagina.
“I was later told that the victim died due to the bleeding she sustained as a result of the rape,” the witness said.
The police officer additionally informed the court that following the initial report, he proceeded to document the statements provided by both the alleged victim and the defendant.
Furthermore, he conducted an on-site investigation at the crime scene, which was described as a remote, overgrown, and uninhabited location.
In the legal proceedings, Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case, scheduling the next session for October 27, 2023, when the trial will resume.
