Concerns about student safety within Nigeria’s higher institutions are taking centre stage as a 20-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos recounts her alleged rape by a lecturer before an Ikeja High Court.

The student, whose identity is protected, told the court that the incident involving Dr. Samuel Ojogbo occurred in August 2025 after an examination on campus. Testifying through the prosecution led by state counsel, Mr. Owolabi Azeez, she described how she was asked to meet the lecturer following her exam.

According to her account, she eventually met him the next day after another paper, when he directed her to wait and later took her to what she described as a secluded underground office. She alleged that the space had no windows or administrative presence, raising questions about oversight and safety in staff workspaces.

The student told the court that after a brief discussion about her exam, the lecturer allegedly sent away other students, instructed her to shut the door, and then forcefully assaulted her. She said she left the office in distress and immediately confided in a friend, triggering a chain of reports within and outside the institution.

Her testimony further revealed that initial efforts to escalate the matter internally were met with reluctance, as she claimed a departmental authority questioned the lack of evidence and advised caution rather than immediate action. It was only after persistence from a family member that the case was taken to external bodies, including the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the police.

The Lagos State Government is prosecuting the case, with the defendant facing charges of rape and sexual assault under relevant state laws. Justice Oyindamola Ogala has adjourned proceedings to April 27 for cross-examination, as the trial continues to spotlight the urgent need for stronger protective systems for students within academic environments.