Accused Rapist Propose To Marry the Victim!

By: Online Publisher's

Pic From the scene

Still trying to Cool off from the babrbaric Abia rape case ABSU RAPE SAGA I was angered by this latest news that was just forwarded to me...

As if it was not criminal enough to rape an innocent female, a 23-year old man, Samuel Godwin Effiong, who is facing a rape charge at Oshodi magistrate’s court, has made a shocking proposal to the 27-year old rape victim (name withheld) at the court by offering to marry her to compensate her.

Effiong made the offer in the open court to the victim by proposing to marry her before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Osho Adebiyi.

Effiong told the court, in the presence of the victim, that he was ready to marry the victim and take care of the baby if she was pregnant as a result of the rape.

He said the proposal will facilitate the final settlement of the rape charge against him.

Effiong was charged to court for allegedly raping the 27-year old woman under false pretence.

He was alleged to have worn his brother’s military uniform and arrested the victim at Ikeja area.

Instead of taking her to the barracks as he claimed while arresting her, he took her on a motorcycle to a hidden place at Mafoluku Oshodi where he raped her.

He was however unlucky when someone who suspected their movement raised an alarm that attracted other neighbours and the police.

Effiong was eventually arrested and charged to court.

He pleaded not guilty.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

When the matter came up, he made the offer so that he would regain his freedom.

Lawyers who spoke to P.M.NEWS this morning said despite offering to marry the victim, the accused will have to face trial to enable the law take its course.

The former Secretary-General of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Lagos branch, Mr. Ike Ukor, said “No, the law will still have to take its course, unless the woman agrees to marry and drop the charge.”

In his reaction, Festus Keyamo, legal practitioner, said: “the accused marriage proposal does not legalise the crime, though it all depends on the woman because once the woman drops the charge and says ‘I am no longer pursuing the case’ that will be the end of the case, as the prosecution needs the evidence of the woman to convict the man.”

Another lawyer, Mr. Paul Ogundele said as the issue is, the legal implication is that since the accused in the rape matter agrees to marry the victim, there is the likelihood of the case being frustrated, especially when the victim consents to the marriage since she is the sole witness in the case. They will be expected to give overwhelming evidence for the prosecution of the case.

Another Lagos lawyer, Mr. Tahiru Najim while also aligning himself with the opinion of other lawyers, said the man cannot be exonerated.

“He is still liable in strict legal terms because it is the relationship that existed at the time the offence was committed that counts.”

Mr. Alex Uzebu, another Lagos-based legal practitioner, said the offence had already been committed.

“It has no bearing at all with the marriage proposal. Just like a man who steals another man’s car and decided to return it after he was caught or offers to buy the car, the person is liable.”

Orionye from the law firm of Ade Oyebanji & Co. opined that the man cannot be exonerated from the charge of rape unless the woman decides to drop the charge against him.

“If she drops the charge, then the man can escape and if not, when the case is proved, the man will be liable.”

Abia State Govt changes position on the ABSU gang rape

ABIA State Government has said its statement on the gang rape video clip was based on claims by the Vice-Chancellor of the state University, the institution’s student union government and the state police commissioner. 

Five suspected members of a cult group had gang-raped a student of ABSU, recorded the incident and posted it on the Internet, a development that had triggered an uproar across the country. 

The state government had earlier described the claim that five students from the state university gang-raped a female student as false, insisting that such an incident did not take place within the university. 

But the Media Adviser to the State Governor, Mr. Bonny Iwuoha, explained that the earlier position of the state government on the matter was based on the report credited to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Chibuzor Ogbuagu, the institution Students Union Government and the police. 

Iwuoha, who argued that the matter was still an allegation, recalled that Ogbuagu, the school’s SUG and the police had maintained that there was no rape incident. 

He said, “The statement that was made initially by the state government was based on the report of the Vice-Chancellor, President of the university’s student union government and the police. 

“The Vice-Chancellor said nothing of that nature happened. The university’s SUG and the police also said there was no rape incident. So the state government reacted based on that.” 

Iwuoha said the state government would still rely on the ongoing investigation by the police before taking a position on the matter. 

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Bala Hassan, on Sunday confirmed that the police had apprehended two of the five suspects allegedly involved in the rape. 

Hassan said the police acted on the information given about the identity of the suspects on the Internet to make its arrest, adding that they were working hard to apprehend the remaining three. 

The CP said the suspects were arrested within the Uturu campus of the university. 

He could not disclose if the police had made further findings in the cause of unravelling the identity of the rape victim. 

Hassan, however, said those arrested were “mere suspects” as the Internet site that broke the story of the rape incident in the university did not disclose the full names of the purported rapists. 

The CP said no five names listed as the assumed rapists had their surnames attached to them, saying it would be difficult for the police to identify the likely culprits.

Abia Gang Rape

“We don’t investigate rape cases based on what people put on twitter. When a crime is reported, the DPO must send detectives to investigate the scene of the crime. Up till now have you seen the victim? Have you seen the scene of crime? Have you seen the suspects? It is a very dangerous rumour that must be dismissed by all good meaning Abians and Nigerians” - Bala Hassan, Commissioner of police Abia State

What a shame! Not only have we sent the video to the authorities in Abia State, we've also sent a few leads to them...but nobody seems to be interested in doing anything about it...other than releasing press statements and talking bullshit! How can it be a rumour when there's a video? These people are making me so angry!