The victim in the alleged rape trial of Chief Perekeme Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, has testified before a Bayelsa High Court, giving vivid accounts of how she was raped by her boss (Kpodo).
The 26-year-old lady (name withheld) on Friday testified along with her uncle and a medical doctor, who examined her on June 9, a day after she was allegedly abused sexually.
In her testimony at the court, the victim said she was invited by the accused (her boss) to his office in the hotel about 8pm on the fateful day where he locked the doors and raped her.
She said Kpodo had threatened her that he was the brains behind the Famou Tangbe (a dreaded security outfit under ex-governor Sylva) and advised her to yield to his demand in her own interest.
The victim, who narrated her experience before the court, broke down in tears and subsequently forced the judge to suspend the hearing twice to enable her to regain composure.
She said the accused had been making indecent sexual advances to her before the incident.
The victim stated,
“I was employed as a cashier by Kpodo, the owner of the hotel. Whenever I went to submit cash to him, he usually touched me. I did not like the way he used to touch me. So, I reported it to the employment agency that helped me secure the job, and they advised me to plead with him.
“I talked to him that it was a sin and that I did not like the way he used to touch me any time I went to his office. After my protest, he stopped for some time.
“After some time, he started again. That fateful day, he locked the door and raped me. I shouted and also pleaded and he said he would not leave me until he was satisfied with me.
“So, when he finished, he asked me to clean myself and to bring his food. He did not use a condom and I was injured. He removed my pair of trousers and I kept struggling with him until he finished.
“I called my uncle who is a policeman and he came and took me home. The next day, we went to report the incident to the police and they gave me a medical report form which I took to a hospital.
“The hospital conducted tests, including an HIV test on me and thereafter prescribed some drugs which I have been taking.”
Kpodo was, on July 31, arraigned for alleged rape at State High Court 7 in Yenagoa.
Kpodo was charged with two counts of unlawful detention and rape of the victim.
Punch
At the resumed trial of the case, the trial judge, Justice E. Eradiri, listened to the testimony of a medical practitioner, Dr. Ikenna Nwanna, who examined the victim after she was allegedly raped.
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
