Ekiti court clears FUOYE student arrested for homosexual activities

A magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has struck out a two-count of indecent assault instituted against Oni Olalekan, a recent graduate of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

Oni had pleaded not guilty to the charges of allegedly assaulting his male colleague, Omukoro Collins, in an off-campus hostel in the university community.

Accusations and counter-accusations were made by some students of FUOYE, who alleged that Oni had engaged in homosexual activities with a male. The two counsels for the defendant, Femi Falade and Tayo Oloruntoba, including the police prosecution, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, had informed the court about the absence of witnesses in court for the three times the case was called.

The court, however, in its final judgement delivered by Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, struck out the petition for lack of diligent prosecution, positing that the presence of complainants and witnesses in a criminal case is key to a successful prosecution.

Reacting to the verdict, Oni, in a statement, said he is deeply grateful to his family, especially his mother and sister, as well as his faculty and department lecturers, for their support.

“When I first heard the allegations, I was shocked. It was difficult to believe that such accusations could be directed at me, considering my reputation as a well-respected and well-behaved member of the university, who also serves as Chief of Staff to the Faculty President of Social Sciences, FUOYE,” he said.

“The allegations were utterly ridiculous to me, and I remained confident in my innocence, knowing that only the guilty should be worried.”

Oni said the entire incident seems to be politically motivated, noting that it is no coincidence that these false allegations surfaced when he reached his final year, especially with the Student Union Government (SUG) election happening shortly after.

He added, “Despite the challenges we face as a nation, I appreciate the criminal justice system in Nigeria. This case has shown that justice still prevails in our country. The court’s ruling is a testament to its commitment to truth and the proper administration of justice, ensuring that no innocent person is unjustly punished.”