The 17-year-old student of the University of Ilorin, recently revealed
how she was allegdly raped by her lecturer, Solomon Olowookere.
According to investigation by online medium, Premium Times, one day in
February, the lecturer locked his office against the student where he
subsequently pushed her on the table before performing the illicit
act.
The lecturer reportedly covered the girlโs mouth with bare hand to
stifle screams.
When confronted, Olowookere, who is a senior lecturer, denied the
allegations. He said he had helped the student multiple times but
denied any possibility of sexual incident between them adding that the
story was made-up.
But multiple interviews with senior university officials, including
the Head of Department of Arts Education, the Dean of Faculty of
Education and Dean of Studentsโ Affairs, confirmed the assault on the
innocent girl.
The officials said, Olowookere had admitted to them that he assaulted
the girl and had pleaded for help, but later changed his testimony.
They said in committing the act, the lecturer abused his position
further by increasing the studentโs test score as compensation.
The investigation conducted by a panel set up by the university to
review the case, formed the basis for a recommendation that the
lecturer should be dismissed.
Two months after the incident, the authority of the university is yet
to act either by adopting or rejecting the report as the lecturer has
remained in the employment of the institution.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sulyman
Abdulkareem, has refused to comment on the issue saying he will prefer
to keep mum since the matter is already in court for legal
clarification.
Similarly, the spokesperson for the university, Kunle Akogun, declined
comment, saying he had not been briefed on the case.
Denying rape
Olowookere hinged his denial of rape on the fact that the corridor to
his office was always busy and if anyone had screamed, students would
have been attracted. That is more so since the level adviser, a
photocopy vendor and another lecturer were around that day.
He also said the air-conditioner in his office never worked since he
took up the space; as a result his windows were always open. He also
said if indeed the girl was raped, she would have cried out of his
office and her clothes would not have been intact.
The lecturer said at a second meeting with faculty professors, the
girl, her guardian and a lawyer, that the guardian told him he did not
rape the girl and that she was not a virgin as she claimed. He said
the guardian said tests conducted on the girl turned negative and that
it was a โset-upโ.
Asking for justice
The student in her testimony said as she was leaving the faculty,
Olowookere drove in and asked her to see him in his office where he
later showed her script.
She scored 24 over 40, but he offered to raise it to 30. The student
said she declined the offer.
She said, The lecturer started asking about her state and church and
finally allowed her leave. But as she stood up and took her bag, the
man locked the door. She said she tried to open the door but he would
not allow her. The duo struggled before he pushed her to a table.
She said she tried to scream but the man covered her mouth with his
hand. The attacker pulled down her underwear and forcefully penetrated
her. After the incident, he left her in the office.
โI wore my cloth and walked out of his office to one corner as I did
not want anybody to see me,โ she said.
โSemen, I donโt know about that. But as for blood stain, there was no
blood stain on my underwear. I did not do proper scrutiny of my
underwear I just soaked it in water because it was not something I
want to be talking about.โ
She affirmed: โHe did. In the medical report it was stated there that
he penetrated. I want to believe I have some level of strength, but
not enough to overpower him to make my way out of his office.
โFirst of all, I am Christian and it is against my religion to have
aid to enable me pass a course. In my family they wonโt encourage
failure.โ
