Admin I Monday, March 16.26
IKEJA, Lagos – Randy Pastor and legal practitioner, Aka-Bashorun Olawale Akanni was in serious emotional turmoil earlier today as a school teacher, Mrs. Tolulope Hassan-David testified before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, against him. He is standing trial for alleged indecent treatment of a 14-year-old girl.
At the continuation of trial, the third prosecution witness, a former teacher to the survivor told the trial judge that the alleged victim disclosed to her that her guardian sleeps with her.
While being led in evidence-in-chief by the State Prosecution Counsel, O.O Aluko, the witness informed the court that she has been teaching since 2007 until present.
The teacher told the court, “I received a letter from the Ministry of Justice between my former student from Onike Girls Junior High School and the defendant, Mr. Bashorun.
The witness stated that she was the survivor’s class teacher between 2013/2014. I was teaching her business study.
She told the court that, She should be around 14 years old, She was staying with Mr. Bashorun
She further narrated she came to know the defendant during the Open Day where guardian and parents come to know about the performances of their children or ward.
She explained “I was seated that day that Mr. Bashorun came and said he was not happy with her performance, that she can’t read at her age and want her to start reading.
“I said there are lessons that could be taken. He said he wants one-on-one. That was the day I met him
However, she said, “During the lesson, she was absent minded and I was worried.
“I had to call her and asked her what is the problem and she said her guardian sleeps with her. That was the first time I got information about her.”
“When I heard it, I was shocked because when Mr. Bashorun came and he was very enthusiastic and I thought how would he be sleeping with her?”
“I asked for her mum’s number and called the mother and the mother said she is aware and she’s about exiting the house.
“I went to school counselor to inform them.
“Thereafter we had a meeting with the wife and Mr. Bashorun. It was in their apartment at Onike road and at the meeting the wife asked me to narrate what happened and he said nothing like that happened and I left.
The witness further told the court that she later observed that her student was no longer coming to school.
In her words, “The day she told me about what is happening in the house that was the last lesson she had.
“So I called the mum, she said she had left the house of Mr. Bashorun.
During cross examination by the defence counsel, Gbenga Ojo, Mrs. Hassan-David, insisted that all her testimony about the defendant was related to her by the complaint
Mr. Ojo further asked the witness, “You didn’t witness it.
“I didn’t say I witness it. I was the one that spoke and related all that she (the victim) told me.
The defendant said nothing happened.
Did you advice her to leave the house?
“No, but she told me she was going to leave.
Also, ASP Agada Sylvester, a fourth prosecution witness, who was a Police Inspector attached to Zone 2 Lagos at the time he investigated the case told Justice Oshodi that, “Sometimes in 2023, a case of defilement was reported through a written petition by a emale and was addressed to the Zone 2 against one lawyer and a pastor.
“In the process the petition was approved by a unit now Zonal Quick Intervention Squad..
“The case was referred, while I was detailed for investigation. In the process the contact was made to the complaint and she came, wrote statement voluntarily.
“Under investigation, we extended invitations to the defendant which he honoured.
“On his arrival he made statement under caution. He admitted some of the allegations and denied some.
He admitted that he approached the father of the complaint to come and stay with him while he enrol her in school and in return would be doing domestic work in the house.
“He enrolled the complaints in Onike High School around his house at Lagos Island area Ebute Meta.
“But he denied having sex nor rape the complaints or threaten her of any kind.”
Continuing, “Prior to this,.we extended an invitation to the house of the defendant, due to findings the following fact emerged
“The defendant and the complaint attended the same church.
He claimed that during his findings, the lady ran out of the house because of alleged harassment and constant sexual abuse.
The Police investigator also told the court that the complaint later dropped a note with the defendant’s wife through a lady.
ASP Agada Sylvester also said the defendant’s wife confirmed that the letter the lady wrote was given to her.
He told the judge that the defendants wife also received another call from one Tolulope, a teacher from her school complaining that the husband do have sex with the complaint.
“The defendant wife further revealed the meeting between the complaint, herself and the teacher that the complaints live with them for about a year.
“It was discovered the incident took place in 2012 that was the year the offence was committed.
“We extended invitation to the teacher but she refused to come till date.
“Those are the findings of what I remember for now.
“The complaint as at then was underage.
“The defendant name is Aka-Bashorun Olawale, I have forgotten the last name. This is him, (the witness pointing to the dock.)
While the prosecution witness was under cross examination, the police officer said that “A meeting was arranged between the defendant and the complaint.
“The defendant’s wife in her statement said that when she was contacted by the teacher that he is having sex with the complaint, she herself made a joint meeting with three of them. That is her statement. I was not there.
“The same teacher went to the family house and confronted the defendant and he said there was no such.
He also told the court that an officer, Jumai Theophilus contacted the teacher but the teacher refused to come.
“I did not go further to find out the content of the allegation, he told the court.
When probed further by the defendant counsel, Mr. Ojo, about how he arrived at his findings,.
He responded, “Through the statement of the complaint, statement of the defendant and the witness whom happened to say that she is the wife of the defendant and the complaint that lived with them for a year”
He noted that investigation should have included visiting the scene of crime, but told the court, “None of them, defendant and complainant were no longer in the house were the offence was committed.
“It was his office I went. In a normal circumstance, the scene has to be visited.”
The witness also said he found out that the defendant had left the house about 2014.
He told the court, “His statement was not even that he lived in that area.
Do you know one Olakunle Orebe, a police officer stationed in Zone 2? I cannot remember.
“I investigated to the level of investigation, however the case file of investigation are here before this honourable court.
I found out other people are living in the house but refused to come.
When asked if he obtain statement from Olayinka Olatunji, a lawyer, he said, his statement was recorded by himself, he was called by the defendant.
The prosecution witness also said that “There was a transfer case from Zone 2 which was attached to the case file. This investigation was based on referral from Lagos DSVA.
The petition to AIG of Police.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter till June 8, 2026 for continuation of trial.
