UNILAG Lecturer Who Raped 18-YearOld Wants Court To Stop The PressFrom Further Reporting His Story
Court sitting in Ikeja was filled to
capacity on Monday as a University of
Lagos lecturer, Dr. Afeez Baruwa, who
is standing trial for allegedly raping an
18-year-old admission seeker, showed
up in court for trial.
This was just as the counsel for the
defendant, Kunle Abimbola, lamented
the negative press coverage given to his
client’s case, adding that such
publications already presumed the
defendant to be guilty.
Punch Metro had reported on September
10 that Baruwa, a lecturer from the
univeristy’s Distance Learning Institute,
who had been in remand at the Krikiri
Prison since August 7, failed to show up
in court.
The presiding magistrate, Mr. T. Elias,
had adjourned the case till Monday,
September 21, 2015, for the outcome of
the DPP’s advice.
However, Baruwa showed up in court
for the continuation of his trial on
Monday.
Our correspondent also observed the
victim and her parents sitting among
the crowd.
The defence counsel, Abimbola, who
brought an affidavit sworn to by
Baruwa’s wife to show the lecturer’s
failing health, sought the court’s
permission to perfect the bail of
Baruwa.
The counsel, who put forward several
newspaper publications on Baruwa, said
it was wrong that his client was being
tried by the media in the eyes of the
general public.
He said, “The state of my client’s health
should be considered. We also have to
seek a protection of the man from the
press. It is not fair that the defendant is
being tried by the media.
“This is contrary to Section 36 (5), of the
constitution. There are several
publications that attest to this, including
an interview granted to the Dean of the
UNILAG’s Faculty of Business
Administration, where my client was
called all sort of names.
“I urge the court to call the newspapers
to order, and we urge you to come to
the aid of the defendant.”
The OPD lawyer, Ibikunle, said the
publication of the matter in the
newspaper was not unconstitutional as
the general public had already been
informed, and had the right to have
information on the matter as it
progressed.
She added that the affidavit brought
before the court establishing Baruwa’s
ill-health, did not have any medical
report.
The Magistrate, Elias, who went through
one of the newspapers’ publication
briefly, said the case was awaiting
advice from the Department of Public
Prosecutions.
He thereafter adjourned the matter till
November 13, 2015. courtroom of a Lagos Magistrate
Court sitting in Ikeja was filled to
capacity on Monday as a University of
Lagos lecturer, Dr. Afeez Baruwa, who
is standing trial for allegedly raping an
18-year-old admission seeker, showed
up in court for trial.
This was just as the counsel for the
defendant, Kunle Abimbola, lamented
the negative press coverage given to his
client’s case, adding that such
publications already presumed the
defendant to be guilty.
Punch Metro had reported on September
10 that Baruwa, a lecturer from the
univeristy’s Distance Learning Institute,
who had been in remand at the Krikiri
Prison since August 7, failed to show up
in court.
The presiding magistrate, Mr. T. Elias,
had adjourned the case till Monday,
September 21, 2015, for the outcome of
the DPP’s advice.
However, Baruwa showed up in court
for the continuation of his trial on
Monday.
Our correspondent also observed the
victim and her parents sitting among
the crowd.
The defence counsel, Abimbola, who
brought an affidavit sworn to by
Baruwa’s wife to show the lecturer’s
failing health, sought the court’s
permission to perfect the bail of
Baruwa.
The counsel, who put forward several
newspaper publications on Baruwa, said
it was wrong that his client was being
tried by the media in the eyes of the
general public.
He said, “The state of my client’s health
should be considered. We also have to
seek a protection of the man from the
press. It is not fair that the defendant is
being tried by the media.
“This is contrary to Section 36 (5), of the
constitution. There are several
publications that attest to this, including
an interview granted to the Dean of the
UNILAG’s Faculty of Business
Administration, where my client was
called all sort of names.
“I urge the court to call the newspapers
to order, and we urge you to come to
the aid of the defendant.”
The OPD lawyer, Ibikunle, said the
publication of the matter in the
newspaper was not unconstitutional as
the general public had already been
informed, and had the right to have
information on the matter as it
progressed.
She added that the affidavit brought
before the court establishing Baruwa’s
ill-health, did not have any medical
report.
The Magistrate, Elias, who went through
one of the newspapers’ publication
briefly, said the case was awaiting
advice from the Department of Public
Prosecutions.
He thereafter adjourned the matter till
November 13, 2015.
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