Category: City Beats

A 21-year old student, Timilehin Ologunlagba, has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing a fellow student, Adeyemi Adeeso (20).

The suspect, an undergraduate of Gateway Polytechnic in Igbesa, Ogun State, allegedly killed Adeeso outside the campus on August 11.

He was said to have stabbed his victim to death.

The late Adeeso, who lived at Owu-Ikosi, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State with his parents, was a student of Business Administration.

Sources said the suspect and three others accosted the late Adeeso, saying he was going to give him a mark on his body. The late Adeeso tried to run away but they chased him and when they got him, they stabbed him with a knife.

In an interview with The Nation, the bereaved father, Mr. Adedoyin Adeeso, said he learnt about the incident through his guardian.

He said: “I was informed by his guardian who told me that he was found a few metres away from the campus. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died two hours later.”

He said both Ologunlagba and his son were only mates and not friends, adding: “So, I keep wondering the kind of incision he wanted to make on my son’s body, which eventually resulted in his death. I miss my confidant because he was my first and only son. My son was calm and gentle and could not hurt anybody.

“I do not know what he would have done to them. I need justice for my son and that is why I want the police to do a proper job. They should bring the killers of my son to book.

“Ologunlagba is alleged to be a strong member of Airlord confraternity. This is a known fact on the campus. He should assist investigators in arresting the other members of his gang who are at large”.

 

The 10 family courts in Lagos State receive at least three cases of sexual offences and domestic violence against children daily, the Chief Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade said yesterday.

She said with over 1,000 abuse, rape and molestation cases filed yearly, there is still much to be done in effectively enforcing the child rights law.

Speaking at the Stakeholders Summit on Child Rights/Domestic Violence laws as part of activities marking the Judiciary’s new legal year.

Justice Atilade said there is a rise in domestic violence, rape and other sexual offences.

“Recent happenings make it obvious that violence and tyranny are shifting to the girl-child. The abduction of the Chibok grils is a case in point.

“The increase is phenomenal, frightening, offensive and disturbing,” she said.

Justice Atilade called for a reassessment of how child abuse and domestic violence cases are prosecuted.

She asked: “Are we all doing what we should do under the circumstance by protecting the best interests and welfare of these children?

“Are cases of rape being diligently investigated and prosecuted? Are lawyers promoting the right of victims of these offences and not just giving prominence to the right of the perpetrator to fair trial over that of the innocent victims?

“Are the courts ensuring justice for all – the offenders, victims of these offences and the society at large?”

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire advocated the consolidation of child laws for easy implementation.

She urged victims of violence to speak up and seek help before it is too late. Besides, there is the need to change the cultural and religious perception of women and children as weak.

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Mr Ade Ipaye noted that some socio-economic and cultural factors were working against effective enforcement of laws on women and children.

Recalling a case where a woman died from domestic violence, he said the husband was arrested and was about to be charged with murder when relatives pleaded with the ministry to drop the case for the children’s sake.

“They family were begging that the father of the children should not be sent to jail because there will be no one to provide for them,” Ipaye said.

According to him, when no one is willing to come up and testify, conviction becomes difficult.

“We cannot stop impunity if offenders are not punished,” Ipaye said.

Executive Director, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) Mrs Funmi Falana said perpetrators of rape and domestic violence got away sometimes because of weak investigation.

“Sometimes the police destroy rape/molestation cases at the point of investigation. Imagine asking a 7-year old victim to make consistent statements for more than once,” she said.

She also faulted prosecution’s requirement for another person to corroborate a rape case, saying: “Rape is not a dinner party that you ask people to come and witness.”

Executive Director, Partnership for Justice Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba said the police must be well trained on how to deal with victims of rape or domestic violence so that the culture of treating the victim like a criminal will end.

“Rape is a crime against the state, so rape victims should be given transportation fares to court so they do not lose interest in the cases, which usually take several years to determine,” Mrs Eze-Anaba said.