Sexual assault: OAU student was my wife-to-be, says Professor

A lecturer at the Department of African Language Department, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Joseph Opefeyitimi, has reacted to the accusation of sexual assault leveled against him by one of his students.

The Star had earlier reported that the female student accused Prof. Opefeyitimi of sexually harassing her.

The student, who said her lecturer subjected her to physical and emotional torture, accused Opefeyitimi, a Professor of Yoruba Incantations and Stylistics at the African Language Department, of sexually molesting her during a visit to the lecturer’s office on March 18, 2022.

Responding to the allegation, the lecturer, who disclosed the name of the female student as Babafemi Boluwatife Hannah, said he had promised to marry the student.

Opefeyitimi noted that all that happened in his office was consensual, saying the student called for it.

He made this known in a letter addressed to the Head of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, OAU, a copy of which was obtained by The Star on Wednesday.

The letter was titled, ‘Re: Report of sexual assault and molestation against Professor Joseph A. Opefeyitimi’.

Prof. Opefeyitimi further revealed that he has been dating Boluwatife for about four years, adding that the accusation was a ploy to escape marrying him.

The lecturer, however, said his lawyer should be allowed to witness the probe panel sittings.

He stated: “Truly Babafemi Boluwatife Hannah was in my office on Thursday 17th day of March, 2022. All that happened in my office was consensual and she was the one that called for it.

“I never knew she had a grand masters’ plan for me. I thought as husband and wife to be right from before she got admission into our department I could leave her to treat me the way she wanted. I called her as a result of the situation in town because she lives there and she actually came to update me.

“There are too many lies in her write-ups. For instance, while paragraph three was true, paragraph four was self-contradictory.

“Again, her claim of indecent assault in paragraph eleven that I, “sexually assaulted and violated” her between 1:23p.m. she entered into my office and the 2p.m. I had to take my son from school, which I did, must be substantiated because it has turned the whole allegation from civility, tending towards criminality. This is why I am involving a lawyer.

“I am suggesting by the way of appeal that my lawyer be made to witness all proceedings relating to this case. In fact, I will be grateful if he could be made to sit if only as an observer at today’s 12 noon Department panel.

“In summary, Boluwatife is my wife-to-be. She was responsible for all that happened in my office on that day. If, after four years of dating, waiting to consummate our union, she suddenly turned around to cleverly take pictures of my body parts as evidence to indict me.

“I must not handle the case alone since my wife at home is privy to our relationship. Since our relationship was being planned towards marriage after her graduation, I already took my wife into confidence, even though the lady wants the relationship to be kept secret. It is now I can understand why she wanted the relationship to be kept secret and that she had never been sincere.

“I want the panel to discountenance and dismiss the petition. It is a ploy to escape marrying me despite her promise and all the assistance I have rendered for her including the awards she had taken within the period of her studentship.

The Star

Segun Ojo