Court Strikes Out Alleged Rape Case Against Covenant University Lecturer
A High Court of Justice Ota Judicial Division sitting at Ilaro, Ogun State in Charge Number: HCT/78c/2021- The State vs. Stephen Ukenna on 5th June, 2024 struck out a three count charge of having sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation and rape preferred against Dr. Stephen Ukenna, a former lecturer in the Department of Business Administration, Covenant University Ota, Ogun State.
Dr. Stephen Ukenna was alleged to have committed the act against a 17 year old female student of the Department of Human Resources of the same university on or about the 11th day of March, 2021.
The defendant was subsequently charged to court and the case pended for more than three years without the prosecution producing their witnesses to prove the alleged offences.
During these period, the case came up first before Honourable Justice N. O. Durojaiye (later transferred to another Judicial division) and later Honourable Justice A. A. Shobayo.
Premised on this, on 5th June, 2024 the prosecutor, O. A. Osunsami, State Counsel, informed the court that she has been directed by the Director Public Prosecution to withdraw the charges against the defendant as all efforts to get their witnesses have proved unsuccessful.
The High Court, presided by Honourable Justice A. A. Shobayo, struck out the case and the defendant discharged.