The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command, has launched an investigation into an alleged rape incident involving a survivor named Ogochukwu Odogwu in the Lekki area of the state. The investigation is being spearheaded by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
This development was confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, who assured that the state government is committed to ensuring justice for the survivor. “We are collaborating with the Lagos State Police Command to investigate this case and ensure that the survivor receives comprehensive support,” Vivour-Adeniyi stated.
Odogwu, who works as a Human Resources Business Partner at ARM Pension, has accused Abisola Onigbogi, the Executive Director (Technical) of ARM Pension, of raping her on the night of July 18, 2024, after an office party. According to Odogwu, she was taken from the party and assaulted at a hotel on Chevron Drive in Lekki.
In a detailed account shared with newsmen, Odogwu, a single mother of two, described how she was allegedly abducted from the office event by Onigbogi and later woke up naked in a hotel room with her private parts bruised.
Odogwu recounted that on the evening of the party, she consumed a small amount of Jameson whiskey mixed with Coke. She mentioned that during the party, as a member of the planning committee, she had to periodically leave her table to oversee food distribution, leaving her drink in the care of a colleague, Damilola Oluyori, who is also a close friend.
Her last clear memory was around 7:30 pm. She recalled that Damilola later told her that she had expressed feeling tipsy and unable to drive, leading Damilola to ask Onigbogi to drop her off at home, as he lived in the same area.
However, Odogwu lost all memory of the evening after that point, which she noted was highly unusual, even for someone who had consumed alcohol. The next thing she remembered was waking up naked in a hotel room at around 3 am, realizing that she had been assaulted.
Upon waking, Odogwu searched the room for clues about her location, eventually discovering that she was at a hotel on Chevron Drive. She managed to leave the hotel and get a taxi home, but later discovered messages from Onigbogi and Damilola that raised further questions about the events of the night.
Odogwu attempted to contact Onigbogi, who claimed he had taken her to the hotel because she was incoherent when he asked for her address. He denied knowing why she was naked when she woke up and claimed to have left immediately after dropping her off.
Unsatisfied with Onigbogi’s explanation, Odogwu returned to the hotel the following morning to review the CCTV footage. The footage showed Onigbogi leading her into the hotel room at around 3:52 pm and leaving approximately an hour and 45 minutes later.
Odogwu has since undergone a rape kit test at Island Maternity and filed a formal report at the Ikoyi Police Station. She also informed her workplace, including the Head of HR, the Managing Director, and another Executive Director, about the incident.
Expressing her distress, Odogwu emphasized that her life has been severely impacted by the assault. She has been prescribed medication, including antibiotics and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, and has requested time off work to recover.
Odogwu firmly believes that Onigbogi may be a serial rapist and fears she might not be his first victim. She is calling on the Lagos State Government to ensure that justice is served and that Onigbogi and any accomplices are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to a thorough investigation and ensuring that justice is served in this case. In related news, a man was attacked by a cow and bull after he attempted to rape them.
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