Policeman Tells Court How Man Raped A Septuagenarian To Death

 A man identified as Jelili Lawal, has been arraigned before the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for raping a septuagenarian to death.

An Assistant Superintendent of Police, Babatunde Ashifat, who stood as a witness to the case on Tuesday narrated how Jelili Lawal committed the act.

Led in evidence in chief by the state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, the ASP told the court that he received the case for investigation on January 2, 2019.

ASP Babatunde Ashifat said the case was reported at their station by an officer who was on patrol, noting that the policemen who reported the case were called by two ladies who saw Jelili raping the victim.

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Ashifat narrated the old woman was with Jelili on January 1, 2019, at the Maryland area of Lagos and had begged him that he should please help her locate her way home.

 “The defendant gave her N500 and they boarded the same bus together", he said.

“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.”

The ASP further narrated to the court that the victim, who had a problem with her ears and was declared missing by her family, sustained injuries from the sexual assault.

He said that the woman later died from the incident due to excessive bleeding.

“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.

Ashifat said he recorded the statements of the alleged victim and the defendant after the report was made, noting that he visited the scene of the crime, which was bushy and an abandoned place where no one was living.

The case was adjourned by Justice Rahman Oshodi until October 27, 2023, for continuation of trial.