Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
It was learnt that the suspects – Kingsley Oke, Henry Osadere and Francis Ekwe – were arrested in the Majidun, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, before they were transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.
It was gathered that the suspects, who lived in the same area with the parents of the teenager, identified only as Ijeoma, allegedly raped the girl in August 2016, after the mother went for a vigil.
Punch correspondent gathered that Ijeoma, a primary 6 pupil, was later discovered by the mother to be pregnant, and she reported to the police at the Owutu division.
The police said the three men were arrested on September 9, 2016. Speaking with Punch Metro, Ijeoma said one of the suspects threatened to kill her if she disclosed the rape to anyone.
She said, “It was Uncle Kingsley (Oke) who first raped me. On that evening, he called me and said he would send me on an errand. When I went to his room, he immediately locked the door.
“I started begging him, but he forcefully carried me to his bed and raped me. On the second occasion, it was one man called Baba Ijebu that molested me. I had been sent to his house to collect an item.
“While in his house, he raped me. I cried, but he said I would die if I told anyone. The third man was Henry (Osadere). I don’t want to talk about it again.”
Forty-three-year-old Osadere, however, denied raping Ijeoma, saying she was a wayward girl.
He said, “She came to my place and said she had many boyfriends. I asked how a teenager like her had several boyfriends. Anytime she came to my apartment, she would steal some items. That was why I sent her away.
“I was surprised that she said I was one of those who raped her. She said she had a three-month-old pregnancy. I don’t know the other suspects.The girl lied against me. She knows the people who messed around with her. It was because I stopped her from coming to my house that she lied against me.”
Oke, 30, a welder, said, “I have known the girl since 2014. She usually came to my house to play. She is a wayward girl. Everyone knows about her promiscuity. I never raped her.”
Ekwe, 52, said Ijeoma and her mother had begged him in August to borrow them some money, which he did, adding that he did not rape the girl.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigations.
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