Court hears harrowing testimony of armed robbery, rape victim’s husband

A harrowing testimony unfolded at the Ogun State High Court on Wednesday as a witness, Japhet Akawe, recounted the traumatic experience his family endured at the hands of a suspected armed robber, identified simply as Moses.

The defendant is currently standing trial for rape and armed robbery before Justice O. S. Oloyede.

Akawe detailed how the accused allegedly assaulted his wife, stole her mobile phone, and made violent threats against his family in the Sagamu area of Ogun State.

He further narrated how the suspect took his brother’s motorcycle, leading to a chain of legal and financial troubles for his family.

According to Akawe, the incident occurred on March 18, 2023, when his wife, brother, and sister were harvesting cassava on their farm.

The defendant, armed and dangerous, reportedly attacked them, taking Akawe’s wife deeper into the bush before subjecting her to sexual violence.

“On March 18, 2023, at about 3 pm, I received a phone call from my wife through my younger sister’s phone.

She told me that while she, my younger brother Joseph, and his wife were at the farm, the defendant suddenly appeared, snatched her phone, dragged her into the bush, forcefully had sex with her, took her naked picture, and even put a pepper substance on her face,” Akawe told the court.

After learning about the attack, Akawe sought immediate medical help for his wife. “I called my friend to take her to the clinic where she was treated,” he added.

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However, the nightmare did not end there. The defendant allegedly answered a call made to Akawe’s wife’s phone and mocked him.

“He picked up the call and asked me if I was not happy that he had not kidnapped my wife before ending the call. Later, he called me with another number and warned me not to call my wife’s number or the one he was using, or else he would come for my family.”

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Akawe also described the hardship that followed when his younger brother’s motorcycle, which had been forcibly taken by the accused, became the subject of legal disputes.

“On Thursday, March 20, 2023, the owner of the motorcycle which the defendant forcefully collected from my brother arrested my brother and took him to court. He was granted bail, but because I was not around, he couldn’t meet the bail conditions and was taken to prison. When I returned, I negotiated with the owner of the motorcycle, paid for it, and the case was struck out in court,” he recounted.

Determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, Akawe reported the attack to the Sagamu Police Station, providing them with the phone number from which he had received threats. The authorities tracked the number, and three months later, it led them to the arrest of the suspect.

During cross-examination by the defense counsel, D. O. Efuwape, Akawe confirmed that he had never met the accused prior to the attack but was able to identify him based on the threatening phone call he received.

Justice Oloyede adjourned the case to Thursday, March 20, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.

As the proceedings continue, this case highlights the persistent security challenges in rural areas, where farmers and their families remain vulnerable to violent attacks.

The legal outcome will not only determine justice for the victim but may also set a precedent for addressing similar crimes in the region.