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Summary
56-year-old retired police officer Owolabi Akinlolu has been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Facility for raping a 17-year-old back in July 2024.
A retired police officer, Owolabi Akinlolu, 56, has been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Facility after being arraigned for reportedly raping a 17-year-old girl at the Ogudu Area Command premises. This happened after Owolabi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Ogudu Police Station in Lagos, raped the survivor after promising to help her recover her stolen phone.
According to reports, Owolabi asked the teenager to come to his office on Jun. 29, 2024, claiming that the thief who stole her phone two weeks earlier had been apprehended. However, after arriving at the police station, Owolabi locked his office door and raped the survivor.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) confirmed that Magistrate Fagbohun of Court 11 presided over the arraignment on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. After that, the case was adjourned to Mar. 11, 2025, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to the DSVA, the agency received a report of the incident in July 2024 and immediately facilitated medical and psychosocial support for the survivor. The case was then escalated to the Gender Desk Department of the Lagos State Police Command for further investigation. Officials assured the public that the matter is being handled with the seriousness it deserves.
“This case is another reminder of the urgent need to protect vulnerable individuals from sexual violence,” said Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni, Head of DSVA’s Public Affairs Unit. “We want to assure the public that the Lagos State Government has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence, and we are committed to ensuring that justice is served.”
The DSVA urged members of the public to report cases of sexual violence, emphasising the importance of collective action in tackling such crimes. “We encourage everyone to speak out and report any case of abuse. Silence enables perpetrators, but speaking up can prevent further harm,” Ladenegan-Oginni added.
The agency provided its toll-free helpline, 08000-333-333, and its social media handle, @lagosdsva, for individuals seeking support or wishing to report cases.
Naija Feminists Media also documents some of these issues here.
