By Latiifah Amusan
The Lagos State Police have issued an arrest warrant for a University of Lagos (UNILAG) lecturer, sending shockwaves through the academic community.
The accused lecturer stands at the center of a grave accusation of rape, which has left the institution reeling and demanding answers.
Commissioner of Police Idowu Owohunmi took the unprecedented step of issuing the arrest warrant through the state High Court.
The sweeping nature of the warrant extends not only to the accused but also to the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, indicating the seriousness of the allegations and the need for a thorough investigation.
The alleged victim, a 20-year-old student whose identity remains confidential, reported the harrowing incident that transpired on August 16, 2023.
She had sought her lecturer’s assistance to address academic concerns relating to her results, a routine encounter that turned into a nightmare.
Instead of receiving the academic guidance she sought, the student claims she was sexually assaulted by the very person she had approached for help.
The gravity of this accusation reverberated throughout UNILAG and the entire nation, igniting discussions about safety on campus and the responsibility of educational institutions to protect their students.
In response to the mounting controversy, UNILAG’s spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, publicly acknowledged the ongoing investigation involving an employee of the university.
She conveyed the institution’s commitment to cooperating fully with the authorities in pursuit of justice.
“UNILAG Management, on August 28, received a letter from the Nigeria Police Force, inviting an employee of the university for questioning,” stated Alaga-Ibraheem.
“The employee was immediately informed of the development and advised to comply.”
She went on to emphasize, “On August 29, the employee complied. While we are not yet privy to the full details of the incident that led to the arrest of the employee, we are fully aware that the investigation is ongoing, and we are cooperating with security agencies to ensure that the matter is resolved in the interest of justice.”
