An Edo High Court in Benin, Edo State 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 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 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.
The presiding judge, Justice Itsueli stressed that the prosecution team failed to prove the case against the don beyond reasonable doubt.The 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 therefore upheld the no-case submission filed by the defense/lecturer’s counsel.
