A Lagos State High Court on Monday heard fresh arguments in the ongoing rape trial involving a University of Lagos lecturer, Dr. Samuel Obinna Ojogbo, as defence counsel, Bidemi Ademola-Bello (SAN), accused the complainant of giving inconsistent testimony and falsely implicating his client.
The complainant, 20-year-old Finyinfoluwa Owonifari, was cross-examined during the proceedings, where the defence challenged several aspects of her testimony and questioned the credibility of the allegations.
Ademola-Bello argued that discrepancies in the witness’s statements indicated that the claims were fabricated to damage the lecturer’s reputation. He also queried the alleged destruction of what he described as a vital piece of evidence connected to the case.
During the hearing, the witness was shown a photograph said to be that of the alleged crime scene but stated that she could not identify it, maintaining that the office where the incident allegedly occurred had no window.
The defence counsel further questioned the complainant over statements she made to the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command on September 2, 2025, as well as two separate statements earlier made at the Bariga Police Station on August 28, 2025.
The statements were admitted in evidence by the court without objection from the prosecution.
Ademola-Bello also raised questions about the clothes the complainant said she wore on the day of the alleged incident, referring to an earlier statement in which she reportedly told police she wore black trousers and a short-sleeved multicoloured shirt.
The witness told the court that when she visited a medical centre on August 22, 2025, doctors conducted only a swab test and prescribed medication without carrying out further examination.
She added that she reported the incident to a lecturer identified as Dr. Abu, who later contacted her uncle. According to her, she reached out to Dr. Abu because he was a lecturer in her department.
However, the defence presented call log records allegedly showing that the complainant had previous phone conversations with Dr. Abu earlier on the same day, despite her testimony that she first contacted him only after the alleged incident.
Asked how she obtained Dr. Abu’s phone number, the witness said the number had been shared with students during class sessions.
Justice Ogala adjourned the case until May 25 for continuation of proceedings.