ABEOKUTA, Nigeria — A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, Adebola Sodiq, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police spokesman in the state, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Oyeyemi explained that Sodiq was apprehended following a report lodged by the victim at Owode Egba Divisional Headquarters in Obafemi Owode local government area of the state.
According to Oyeyemi, the victim revealed that Sodiq was the boyfriend of her close friend.
“She said he came to her apartment where she lives with her co-workers on May 9 and asked her to follow him to a junction to buy a gift for her in celebration of her recent birthday,” the spokesman explained.
The victim, having no reason to suspect any foul play due to her close relationship with the suspect’s girlfriend, agreed to accompany Sodiq.
However, the situation took a dark turn when Sodiq asked her to follow him to the premises of the school where he was serving, under the pretext of picking up his wallet.
Oyeyemi detailed the victim’s account, stating, “On getting to the school compound at Agbajege village, the suspect forcefully dragged her to his room where Sodiq had unlawful carnal knowledge of her despite her pleading and crying for mercy.”
Upon receiving the report, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Owode Egba Division, Olasunkanmi Popoola, ordered Sodiq’s arrest. During interrogation, Sodiq confessed to the crime, claiming that he did not know what came over him.
The police spokesman confirmed that the victim was taken to Owode Egba General Hospital for medical treatment by the authorities.
Ogun State’s Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Oladimeji, has directed that Sodiq be transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department for further investigation and possible prosecution.
