HOW I WAS RAPED BY STEPHANIE OKEREKE'S COUSIN- VICTIM

Daniel Okereke

Arinola, a 22-year-old 300 level student of Univer­sity of Lagos, Akoka, has narrated how she was raped by a man, identified as the cousin of former Director–General of the Nigerian Stock Ex­change(NSE), President, Ndi Okereke-Onyuike.

Prince Daniel Okereke, 37 (pictured above) is also related to actress Stephanie Okereke Linus, but that has not prevented him from being arrested and facing trial for rape. Arinola made sure of that by reporting the crime to the police and following it up with lab tests and physical exams.

Still recovering from the scars he inflicted on her in the course of the rape, Arinola explained that she met Prince Daniel online and saw him as a "harmless elder brother who cared about her ailing health", and that was how she ended up in his home.

“We became friends online and I gave him my number. He kept calling requesting to see me in school and I kept giv­ing him one excuse or the other. He actually said that he wanted me to be his friend and I declined that I am a student and should be allowed to face my studies.

“On November 6, 2014, he called me that he was in my school compound. I was sick and told him that I was about to head to the pharmacy to get drugs. He volunteered to drive me to the pharmacy. I was impressed and grateful for such a kind gesture. Af­ter buying the drugs, we drove to the fast food and bought food. He asked me to join him to a seat out joint where I can relax and eat the food. I was sur­prised when he drove straight to his house at Mende, Maryland.”

"When we got to his house, I told him that I was not interested in having sex with him, he called two of his security guards to help him to tie me up and seal my mouth. He then brought out his belt and started flogging me. He said that I will be the one to the bear the shame since the world will ask what I was doing in his house when I was supposed to be in school,” Arinola narrated.

“When it dawned on me that the prince is a beast in sheep’s clothing, I stopped struggling and parted her legs for him. He raped me severally till he was satisfied. He later removed the ropes and ordered me to get out of his house. I was in pains and knew that since the law will finally release him because of his sta­tus, I needed to destroy anything within reach. It was the neighbours whose car was destroyed that alerted the police at Area F, Ikeja.

Not aware of what could have led to the fracas, the police attached to Area F, Ikeja arrested Arionla and accused her of as­sault. On listening to both sides and overwhelming bruises on Arionla’s body, a case of attempted rape was established and Prince Daniel was arrested and later released on bail while Arinola was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja for examination and treatment.

“I wrote my statement and went to the hospital for examination. I was not sur­prised when I was told that he was granted bail the same day. My family had to report the matter to Panti and he was re-arrested.”

It was gathered that Arinola and her family further reported the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti who ordered his re-arrest after he was released on bail by the local police station. He was arrested based on evidence from the lab test which proved that she was forcefully defiled and the cause of the wounds on her body.

Still dressed in his royal white dress as at press time, Prince Daniel, a businessman, single and searching, blamed the devil for the act. When asked if he eventually slept with her, Prince Daniel said:

“Yes, I did. I am very sorry, I need a way out. I am so ashamed of myself. We are family of professionals whom you know very well. I don’t know what got into my head. I am sorry and plead for forgive­ness.”

Confirming the story as at press time , Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu said that the suspect would be charged to court for rape and assault. According to him, the report got from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, showed that there was actu­al penetration in the course of the squabble.

“He will be arraigned along side with one of the security men who assisted the sus­pected to subdue Tope. Meanwhile, the po­lice is still on the trail of one of the security guards who also participated in assisting the man to tie her up.”

Sources disclosed that the security man was later found and both men are now facing a five count charge of conspiracy, assault, rape and threat to life.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and were granted bail while the case is adjourned till January 9, 2015, for trial.



Source: The Sun