• I didn’t rape her, she asked for sex: Suspect
A real estate agent, Mathew Adedoyin, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services for holding an American hostage and repeatedly raping her.
The accused, who reportedly claimed to be a prince of Ile-Ife in Osun State, reportedly invited Tawanda Lynn Jackson, a mother of five, who he met on the social media, to Nigeria, but he allegedly held her hostage upon her arrival in the country and forcefully hard carnal knowledge of the victim.
Jackson, 46, who arrived Lagos on Sunday, November 11, 2018, was said to have been received at the airport by Adedoyin.
Parading Adedoyin and his alleged accomplice, Idowu Ayeni, in Lagos on Monday, the DSS said the estate agent claimed to the black American that he was a wealthy prince from the Arogbatesu Royal Family of Ile-Ife, Osun State, with the intention of extorting money from her.
The 40-year-old Adedoyin was said to have lied to the victim that he was an exporter of ginger and bitter cola, had large plantations of cocoa and palm trees, and claimed that he had lots of slaves working for him.
The Director, Lagos Command, DSS, Mrs Betty Adoki, said the American Embassy in Lagos had reported Jackson’s abduction to the command, which immediately commenced investigation that culminated in the raid of the suspects’ criminal hideout by a team of security operatives and military personnel of the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lagos.
The suspected abductors, according to the DSS, received the victim at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on November 11 and lodged her at the Turn Up Hotel, Ipaja, for three days before moving her to a prepared hideout in Abule Egba, where she was held hostage.
Adoki alleged that Adedoyin had earlier reserved Protea Hotel, Ikeja, as accommodation for the victim while in Nigeria, but he was said to have deliberately moved her to another hotel in order to prevent the monitoring of Jackson by the embassy.
Adoki said, “He (Adedoyin) said that his father was a former king of Ife Titun, Osun State and that he was the heir apparent to the throne. He further cajoled the victim that he owned several buildings in Lagos, including where Jackson was held hostage.
“But the victim started to suspect a foul play when he was losing patience and said he rented the place, a ramshackle place that he had earlier claimed his father owned.”
The prime suspect reportedly seized Jackson’s passport, credit card and US identity card in order to prevent her possible escape.
“Consequently, on November 26, 2018 at about 0200hours, Jackson was rescued from the captivity of these criminal elements, who are suspected to be Internet fraudsters and kidnappers. Jackson was held hostage at No. 7 Akanbi Street, Abule Egba, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos by one Mathew Adedoyin and his accomplice, Idowu Ayeni,” Adoki added.
She said investigation would be intensified after which the suspects would be prosecuted in line with relevant laws.
Speaking to journalists while being paraded, Adedoyin, who claimed to be a real estate agent, denied abducting the victim or raping her.
He said that she asked him for sex, adding that the decision to come down to Nigeria was hers with the intention of getting married to him.
Adedoyin admitted that on her arrival in Lagos, he lodged her at Turn Up Hotel, but had to move her to his friend’s house pending when he would raise money for her return ticket to the US.
He also denied seizing the victim’s passport, saying that he only helped her to keep it safe after he realised that she was carefree with her bag containing her travel and other documents anytime they went out.
His accomplice, Ayeni, said he was uncomfortable when Adedoyin brought the victim to his house and had no concrete plans on when they intended to leave.
Ayeni, who said he works as a litigation officer in a law firm, denied knowing anything about his friend’s plans, adding that his involvement was to let them stay for a few days in his abode. – Punch
