A 43-year-old computer teacher, Cosmos Ugbaja has been dragged before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly raping his 14-year-old pupil within the school premises. Vanguard gathered that Cosmos, a resident of 13 Banjo Oyesanya Street, Ishawo, Ikorodu Local Government, allegedly committed the act on June 1st, 2016. After the act, Cosmos, some elders within the community and the principal, pleaded with the victim’s parents not to report the case to any of the police divisions in Ikorodu, even as they ordered the perpetrator to draft a settlement document which was signed by the victim’s parent, school principal and the elders.
It was learned that Cosmos in the document, admitted committing the act and promised to fund the victim’s medical bill and pay N150, 000 installmentally to the family as compensation. The agreement later collapsed after the victim’s parent realised the impact of the damage and reported to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Coordinated by Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi. At the hearing of the case on Thursday before Magistrate, Mrs. B. Osunsanmi, the Prosecutor, Sergeant Olakunle Orebe, argued that the act was punishable under section 137 of the 2011 Lagos State Criminal law.
The magistrate, Osunsanmi adjourned the case and granted the accuse bail of N500, 000 and two sureties in like sum. Speaking over the case, Vivour-Adeniyi, said “The office of the Public Defender, OPD has also been notified in order to ensure that the affected person’s rights are not further infringed upon.”