Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced Kolawole Muyiwa, a former part-time lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (now Lagos State University of Education), to life imprisonment for rape.
The crime occurred on October 11, 2021, within the college premises in Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos State.
Muyiwa was arraigned on October 6, 2023, and pleaded not guilty. However, in delivering the judgment, Justice Oshodi found him guilty, citing the survivor’s detailed testimony and the defendant’s own admission of requesting a relationship with her, though he claimed it was platonic.
“Kolawole Muyiwa, I have found you guilty of rape, contrary to Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” Justice Oshodi declared. “As a part-time lecturer, you occupied a position of trust and authority, which you abused. The victim was a student at the institution where you taught.”
The judge noted that although Muyiwa was a first-time offender, married with three children, and had no prior criminal record, the severity of the crime warranted the maximum penalty. “Section 260 prescribes life imprisonment for this offence, and that is what I shall sentence you to. You shall also be registered as a sex offender,” he ruled.
During the trial, the survivor recounted how, on October 11, 2021, she arrived early for a departmental meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. While waiting outside her classroom, the defendant asked her to get him food.
She followed him to collect a flask but was instead led into his office. Inside, he claimed he no longer wanted food and requested her help in marking examination scripts.
The court heard that Muyiwa then locked the passage gate and office door, questioned her about having a boyfriend, and, upon her response, forcibly assaulted her.
“He suddenly pushed me down the plastic chair I was sitting on, overpowered me, and forcefully removed my trousers. I was menstruating at the time, and he removed my sanitary pad and raped me,” the survivor testified.
After the assault, the defendant reportedly told her: “What you refused to give me willingly, I have taken by force.”
In his defense, Muyiwa claimed he visited the college on October 11, 2021, to submit a script and met the survivor at the gate, where she offered to help carry his bag. He stated that he later asked if she could help record scores, which she agreed to.
According to his testimony, he proposed a casual relationship, which she accepted, but he denied raping her.
His lawyer, Dr. G.O. Erenta, argued that the survivor’s account was fictitious and lacked corroborating evidence, urging the court to acquit the defendant.
However, Justice Oshodi ruled that the survivor’s testimony aligned with that of the legal practitioner and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), confirming the crime.
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With the verdict delivered, Muyiwa will serve a life sentence and be registered as a sex offender.
