‘Just Let It Go’: Survivor Recounts How UNILAG HOD Allegedly Rebuffed Rape Complaint

LAGOS – A harrowing testimony unfolded at a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, where a student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) recounted how her Head of Department (HOD) allegedly dismissed her report of being raped by a lecturer.

​The victim, whose identity is protected, told the court that when she sought justice within the university’s academic hierarchy, she was met with indifference. According to her testimony, the HOD of the Department of Botany allegedly advised her to “just let it go” rather than pursuing a formal complaint against the accused lecturer, identified as Dr. Kadiri Akeem.

​The case, which has drawn significant attention to the culture of silence regarding sexual harassment in Nigerian ivory towers, involves allegations that Dr. Akeem, an Associate Professor, sexually assaulted the student in August 2023. The victim alleged the incident occurred in the lecturer’s office after she visited him to discuss her academic results.

​During the cross-examination, the survivor detailed the emotional toll of the encounter, stating that the alleged dismissal by a senior female academic official added to her trauma. “I expected a motherly figure and a leader to take action,” she told the court. “Instead, I was told that reporting it would only bring trouble and that I should move on with my life.”

​The prosecution, led by the Lagos State Government, presented evidence suggesting that the university management only took action after the matter was reported to the Inclusive Social Welfare and Empowerment Foundation and subsequently escalated to the police.

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​Dr. Kadiri Akeem, who is currently facing charges of rape, has maintained his innocence. His defense counsel argued that the allegations were a fabrication, attempting to highlight inconsistencies in the timing of the report.

​However, the student’s testimony painted a picture of a systematic attempt to suppress the incident. She recounted how she felt “powerless and intimidated” by the institutional influence of the lecturer and the initial lack of support from her department.

​The presiding judge adjourned the matter for further hearing, as more witnesses, including security personnel and university representatives, are expected to testify.

​The University of Lagos had previously suspended the lecturer following his initial arrest in September 2023, stating it has a “zero-tolerance policy” for sexual misconduct. This trial continues to serve as a litmus test for the enforcement of the Sexual Offences Act within educational institutions in Nigeria.