A lecturer at the Kwara State University, Malete, Pelumi Adewole, has been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, for allegedly sexually harassing a student.
Adewole was arrested by the State Intelligence Bureau over offences bordering on criminal intimidation, sexual harassment and examination malpractices, among others.
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravene sections 397 and 95 of the Penal Code Law and Section 3(320) of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap. E15 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same law.
The Kwara State Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) was also a party to the case.
Adewole, according to the FIDA President, Grace Okoduwa, wedded in June 2021.
The Police First Information Report said a petition, dated October 15, 2021, was written by a student of the Department of Pure and Applied Science of KWASU, who complained of sexual harassment by the lecturer.
The student, according to the police, alleged that sometime in September 2021, Adewole called and threatened to fail her in the forthcoming exams if she refused to have sexual intercourse with him.
Due to the threat issued by the accused person, the police reportedly instructed the student to play along with him in order to obtain evidence.
“The lecturer thereafter lured the student into his bedroom around 8.30pm on Taoheed Road, Basin area, Ilorin, where he gave her a new question paper and answer script of KWASU to rewrite her exam with a promise to have sexual intercourse with her till daybreak.
“The suspect was, however, apprehended in the process by detectives from the SIB, who were hiding at a location,” the FIR stated.
The lecturer pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The prosecutor, Nasiru Yusuf, pleaded with the court to remand Adewole in custody, saying the offences were not bailable.
He noted that sexual harassment had become rampant in institutions of higher learning in the country.
But the lead defence counsel, A.J. Opalekunde, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms, saying the defendant was still innocent until found guilty by the court.
The magistrate, Ibrahim Mohammed, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.
The case was adjourned till December 8, 2021 for further mention.
(The PUNCH)
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