12th July, 2011
Two lecturers of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, Edo State, have been arrainged in court for stealing the sum of N100,000 from Engr. (Dr.) Peter Otubu of the AAU.
In a suit No.MEK/59C/2011 before Magistrate Martina U. Iluobe, the accused were charged with stealing the sum of N100,000 that belongs to Dr Otub; that they allegedly threatened the plaintiff and demanded and collected the said amount having earlier demanded for the sum of N500,000.
It was alleged in the charge that the plaintiff successfully issued a Bank PHB cheque with No.3543950 of N100,000 in favour of Judith Ivie Okosun, an offence punishable under section 406 of the criminal code.
The two lecturers were also accused of unlawfully detaining the plaintiff in the apartment of the said Judith Ivie Okosun against his will, as well as publishing recorded video clips of Engineer(Dr.)Otubu on the internet, the offences punishable under section 516,406,390,(9),365,373,and 375 of the Criminal Code Cap48 Vol.2,Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria,1976, as applicable in Edo State.
The counsel to the accused persons, Barr. Odion Enahoro leading other counsel Barr. Lucky Braimah, A.U. Oboh and G.O. Ojeabu, prayed the court to grant the two accused bail.
The application which was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel.
After consideration the magistrate, Martina U. Illuobe granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety in like sum with a building in the Magistrate’s District that will be verified by the registrar of the court.
The case was then adjourned further till 1 August 2011 for hearing.
The incident happened sometime last year when the plaintiff Engr.(Dr.) Peter Otubu was allegedly forced to remain naked and his photograph was taken and put on the internet and he was made to issue a cheque to the tune of N100,000 for the undergraduate girl called Judith Ivie Okosun of AAU who had gone to her office for arranged sexual rendezvous but the story changed when two men forcefully ordered him to undress and issue them cheque before he could regain his freedom.
This he obliged and the internet picture was not only embarrassing, the university authourities felt disgusted by the scandal and set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the incident and after the committee reported back the university authourities eventually dismissed Engr.(Dr.) Odubu from the institution and suspended Miss Judith Ivie Okosun for three academic sessions.
According to the Vice-Chancellor of AAU, who was also booted out of the institution, the case of Engr. Odubu was a painful one in the sense that he was once an asset to the university having earlier assisted the school to apprehend a lecturer that was sexually harassing a married woman in the institution.
—Yomi Obaditan/Benin