In a significant ruling, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the conviction of a security guard found guilty of raping a female student at the Kogi State Polytechnic’s Osara Campus in September 2018.
A three-member panel, led by Joseph Oyewole, unanimously upheld the trial court’s decision, concurring with the findings and upholding the guilt of Macaulay Masayete.
In the judgment delivered by panel member Okon Abang, the court cited the clear and unambiguous testimony of the survivor (referred to as PW1) and concurred with the trial court’s assessment of the evidence.
Masayete, who was 39 years old at the time of the offense, had appealed his conviction after being found guilty and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the Kogi State High Court in 2019.
The survivor’s harrowing ordeal was recounted during the proceedings, detailing how Masayete dragged her, tore her clothes, and raped her, demanding money afterward. The court emphasized the prosecution’s obligation to prove three key elements of the case, which it found convincingly established.
Critical to the case was the survivor’s testimony, corroborated by medical evidence from a doctor who examined her and confirmed signs of rape.
Rejecting Masayete’s defense and citing inconsistencies in his testimony, the court concluded that he was not a credible witness.
Masayete’s conduct, described as a “crass deprivation of moral rectitude,” was condemned by the court, highlighting his abuse of authority as a security guard entrusted with protecting students.
The incident occurred on September 13, 2018, when a power outage at the polytechnic’s Utility Hall led to a confrontation between Masayete and the survivor, culminating in her abduction and rape in another building on campus.
Despite Masayete’s claims of catching the survivor engaged in indecent conduct with another student, the court found his account unreliable, emphasizing his intention to engage in sexual intercourse with the survivor.
Masayete was arraigned for rape on May 15, 2018, and despite pleading not guilty, the prosecution, supported by five witnesses including the survivor, a medical doctor, and a police officer, successfully presented its case.
With the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of Masayete’s conviction, justice has been upheld, sending a clear message of accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence and affirming the rights and dignity of survivors.
