Crime & Court
Ex-Bayelsa Security Adviser raped me inside office, cashier tells court
The victim in the alleged rape trial of Chief Perekeme Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, has testified before a Bayelsa High Court, giving vivid accounts of how she was raped by her boss (Kpodo).
The 26-year-old lady (name withheld) on Friday testified along with her uncle and a medical doctor who examined her on June 9, 2018, a day after she was allegedly abused sexually.
In her testimony at the court, the victim said that she was invited by the accused (her boss) to his office in the hotel about 8pm on the fateful day where he locked the doors and forcefully overpowered her and raped her.
She said Kpodo had threatened her that he was the brain behind the Famou Tangbe (a dreadful security outfit’ under ex-governor Sylva and advised her to yield to his demand in her own interest.
The victim, who narrated her experience before the court, broke down in tears and subsequently forced the judge to suspend the hearing twice to enable her to regain composure.
She said that the accused person had been making indecent sexual approaches to her before the incident.
The victim stated, “I was employed as a cashier by Kpodo, the owner of the hotel. Whenever I went to submit cash to him, he usually touched me. I did not like the way he used to touch me. So, I reported it to the employment agency that helped me secure the job, and they advised me to talk to him to stop it.
“I talked to him that it was a sin and that I did not like the way he used to touch me any time I went to his off. After my protest, he stopped for some time. But after some time, he started again. That fateful day, he locked up the door and raped me. I shouted and also pleaded and he said he would not leave me until he was satisfied with me.
“So, when he finished, he asked me to clean myself and to bring his food. He did not use a condom and I was injured. He removed my pair of trousers and I kept struggling with him until he finished.
“I called my uncle who is a policeman and he came and took me home. The next day, we went to report to the incident to the Police and they gave me a medical report form which I took to a hospital.
“The hospital conducted tests, including HIV test on me and thereafter prescribed some drugs which I have been taking.”
Recall that Kpodo was on July 31, 2018, arraigned for alleged rape at State High Court 7 in Yenagoa.
Kpodo was charged with two counts of unlawful detention and rape of the victim, a 26-year-old female cashier at the hotel owned and run by the accused person.
At the resumed trial of the case, the trial judge, Justice E. Eradiri, listened to the testimony of a medical practitioner, Dr. Ikenna Nwanna, who examined the victim after she was allegedly raped.
Nwanna, a medical practitioner from the Diete Koko Memorial Hospital, Opolo, Yenagoa, told the court that the patient complained of pains in her pubic area and walked with difficulty when she came to the clinic on June 9, 2018.
The doctor said, “The patient complained that she was raped by her boss and I examined her in the presence of a female nurse. There were bruises in her vulva and due to the pains she did not allow me to touch her vaginal area.
“There were also whitish discharge which I suspect to be semen, although I did not conduct any further tests, the observations tallied with her complaint of violent sexual assault.”
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has granted human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, bail to the tune of ₦30 million. The court also mandated Farotimi to provide three sureties with landed properties within its jurisdiction.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Farotimi to refrain from granting media interviews and to submit his international passport to the authorities. The case has been adjourned to February 13, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi, who had been remanded at a correctional center in Ado Ekiti, arrived at the court premises on Friday at approximately 9:45 a.m. He was conveyed in a prison van accompanied by a police escort. Upon arrival, the embattled lawyer raised his hands in appreciation of a cheering crowd that had gathered outside the court to show their solidarity.
The human rights advocate is facing prosecution for allegedly defaming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola. His arrest has ignited widespread public outcry, with many Nigerians and civil society groups condemning the action and demanding his immediate release.
Farotimi’s detention and subsequent arraignment have fueled debates about the boundaries of free speech and defamation laws in Nigeria, with critics arguing that the case may stifle dissenting voices in the country.
Police operatives have apprehended a 25-year-old man, Enediong Bassey, in possession of a pump-action gun concealed in a bag of rice at Nkwelle-Ezunaka.
The suspect, a native of Ikono Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, was arrested on November 22, 2024, at 6:38 pm following credible intelligence.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
The statement revealed that officers attached to the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters, led by CSP Emeka Obi, acted swiftly to intercept Bassey.
During interrogation, he admitted to being a member of a local vigilante group but confessed to plans of absconding with the weapon to join a criminal gang involved in armed robbery and other illicit activities.
“Given the above and following other complaints and unprofessional conduct by some security outfits and vigilante members, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, in line with the principles of community policing, reiterates the calls for profiling of security operatives assisting the police and other security agencies on anti-crime operations to improve safety in the state,” the statement read.
In light of the situation, the Commissioner of Police has directed the immediate transfer of the suspect to the command’s anti-robbery squad for a thorough investigation.
The Anambra State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property, urging vigilance and collaboration with law enforcement.
Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered an accelerated trial of four bloggers accused of defaming and cyberstalking the management of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), including its Group CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje.
The defendants—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—face a 10-count amended charge for allegedly publishing false and defamatory content about GTCO on various social media platforms.
During proceedings on November 13 and 14, Justice Faji dismissed their bail applications, citing the severity of the charges, which carry potential penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
The judge specifically noted that Precious Eze had previously been charged with a similar offense in another court and was on bail at the time of the alleged actions, demonstrating a likelihood of reoffending.
Justice Faji emphasized the destabilizing impact such actions could have on the banking sector, pointing to the cross-border nature of some of the allegations.
“The regulatory oversight of institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should not be undermined by false claims,” the judge remarked, referencing GTCO’s CBN-approved audited statements.
At the previous hearing, defense counsel Afolabi Adeniyi had urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the defendants were ready to stand trial.
However, the prosecution counsel, Chief Aribisala, SAN, opposed the motion, raising concerns about the defendants potentially absconding and stressing the need for a swift trial.
In his ruling, Justice Faji rejected the defense’s plea, ordering an expedited trial to address the case’s significant implications for the financial industry.
The trial has been adjourned to December 10 and 12 for continuation.
-
Metro1 day agoGrim Friday: Man, Wife, Grandson Perish in Ibadan Fire
-
News3 days ago
Bank Robberies Now History in Lagos Since 2014 – IGP
-
Crime & Court3 days ago
Human Rights Lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Granted ₦30m Bail
-
News1 day ago
NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational
