Shocking Case Unfolds as Man Allegedly Rapes Septuagenarian to Death

In a harrowing revelation at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Assistant Superintendent of Police Babatunde Ashifat recounted the chilling details of how Jelili Lawal allegedly raped a septuagenarian to her demise.

Testifying as a key witness, Ashifat disclosed that he received the case for investigation on January 2, 2019, following a report made at their station by a patrol officer.

The distressing incident unfolded in the Maryland area of Lagos on January 1, 2019. According to Ashifat, the elderly victim had encountered Lawal that fateful day and had sought his assistance in finding her way home. In a gesture of apparent kindness, the defendant gave her N500 and the two boarded the same bus.

However, the situation took a dark turn when they reached a bus stop near Shoprite. Lawal reportedly lured the elderly woman to an uncompleted building in a secluded, bushy area. In the dead of night, he brutally assaulted and raped her, causing her to cry out for help.

Two courageous women who happened to be nearby heard the victim’s cries and discovered the defendant in the act. They promptly called a patrol officer, who swiftly intervened, and the matter was reported at the police station.

The alleged victim, who had preexisting ear problems and was declared missing by her family, suffered severe injuries from the sexual assault. Tragically, her condition deteriorated due to excessive bleeding, ultimately leading to her untimely death.

Officer Ashifat reported, “The victim was bleeding in her anus and vagina, and I issued a medical form for her to be taken to Mirabel Medical Centre. The medical examination confirmed forceful penetration of her vagina. I was later told that the victim died due to the bleeding she sustained as a result of the rape.”

During the course of the investigation, the officer recorded statements from both the alleged victim and the defendant. He also visited the grim scene of the crime, a remote and abandoned location void of any inhabitants.

The case, which has sent shockwaves through the community, is set to continue on October 27, 2023, under the jurisdiction of Justice Rahman Oshodi.