A 20-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos on Wednesday told an Ikeja High Court that she was allegedly raped by her lecturer, Dr Samuel Ojogbo.
The student, who testified during proceedings, made the allegation while being led in evidence by State Counsel, Mr Owolabi Azeez.
She told the court that the incident allegedly occurred on August 22, 2025, in the lecturer’s underground office within the university premises.
According to her, the defendant had engaged her during an examination on August 21 and later asked her to see him after the paper.
“I said yes, I knew a section better. He told me not to worry and to see him after the exam,” she said.
The student added that she visited his office twice but did not meet him until the following day during another examination he supervised.
“After the exam, I saw him, and he asked me to wait,” she said.
The witness told the court that she followed him to an underground office without windows or a secretary, where the alleged incident occurred.
“We sat and discussed the exam. Two students entered; he dismissed them and asked me to shut the door.
“As I closed it, he stood behind me, pushed me onto a couch and began touching me. He forced himself on me and raped me,” she said, weeping.
The student further alleged that after the incident, the lecturer offered to supervise her final-year project and collected her phone number.
According to her, she left the office in tears and reported the incident to a friend, who encouraged her to escalate the matter.
She told the court that the case was subsequently reported to another lecturer, who contacted her uncle, also a staff member in the department, after which they proceeded to the Head of Department’s office.
“He asked for evidence and why I did not record it. The defendant denied the allegation. The HOD advised us to let it go and be more careful with lecturers,” the student said.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the latest allegation against a UNILAG lecturer adds to a growing pattern of sexual misconduct cases involving academic staff in Nigerian tertiary institutions in recent years, many of which have triggered disciplinary actions, suspensions, and public outrage.
Across the country, several universities have faced similar controversies, including reported cases at institutions such as the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and other federal and state-owned universities, where lecturers have been accused of sexual harassment or “sex-for-marks” demands.
In some instances, investigative documentaries and student-led complaints have led to dismissals and prosecutions, reinforcing concerns about abuse of power within academic environments.
Notably, the 2019 BBC Africa Eye “Sex for Grades” documentary exposed widespread allegations of sexual harassment by lecturers in West African universities, including Nigeria, sparking national debate and policy discussions on campus safety and accountability.
More recently, disciplinary actions in some institutions have included the dismissal or suspension of lecturers over alleged sexual misconduct, while advocacy groups have continued to call for stronger enforcement of sexual harassment policies and safer reporting channels for students.
Despite these interventions, student unions and civil society organisations say cases continue to surface, raising questions about enforcement gaps and the effectiveness of existing safeguards in higher institutions.
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