A husband cannot be guilty of raping his wife under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, but may still face life imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration, Professor Akeem Olajide Bello has clarified.
The Professor of Public Law made this known while delivering the 12th Inaugural Lecture of the 2025/2026 Academic Session (458th in the series) of the UNILAGon Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the J.F. Ade-Ajayi Auditorium.
Speaking on the topic, 鈥淟aw as an Instrument of Social Engineering 鈥� A Scholar鈥檚 Contributions to Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Reforms in Nigeria鈥�, Professor Bello explained that while Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State retains the traditional spousal exemption in rape, Section 261 introduces the broader offence of sexual assault by penetration without such exemption.
The implication, he noted, is that although a husband cannot technically be convicted of raping his wife under the law, he may nonetheless be convicted of sexual assault by penetration鈥攁n offence that carries the same penalty of life imprisonment.
Rewriting a Century-Old Criminal Code
Professor Bello recounted Lagos State鈥檚 comprehensive review of its criminal laws in 2009, which culminated in the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, the first major state-level reform of the colonial-era Criminal Code in Southern Nigeria.
Serving at the time as Senior Special Assistant on Public and Constitutional Law to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN , he initiated the proposal that led to the constitution of the Criminal Code Law Reform Committee.
The resulting legislation consolidated sexual offences under a unified framework, broadened the definition of sexual assault beyond rape, raised the age of criminal responsibility from seven to ten years, abolished outdated offences such as sedition and 鈥渞ogue and vagabond,鈥� as well as clarified corporate criminal liability.
Clarifying Bribery and Unlawful Enrichment
Beyond sexual offences, Professor Bello highlighted his doctoral research on bribery, which challenged what he described as outdated anti-corruption provisions. His simplified definition, centred on breach of duty and betrayal of trust, was later adopted in the Criminal Law of Edo State 2022.
That reform also introduced the offence of unlawful enrichment, allowing courts to convict individuals found with wealth disproportionate to their legitimate income where no reasonable explanation is provided.
Engineering Efficiency Through Plea Bargaining
Professor Bello also traced his contributions to criminal justice procedure. As a member of the committee that reviewed Lagos State鈥檚 criminal procedure laws in 2005, he drafted the plea bargaining provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2007. These provisions were later replicated in the federal Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and adopted in several states.
Between 2017 and 2025, Lagos State recorded one thousand, five hundred and nineteen (1,519) approved plea bargain agreements out of one thousand, eight hundred and sixty six (1,866) proposals. A development, he said has helped reduce court congestion and improve efficiency in justice delivery.
He added that, through initiatives supported by the British Council and the European Union, he has trained judges, prosecutors, and defence counsel across multiple states on plea bargaining and sentencing guidelines.
Advancing Restorative Justice
His contributions also extend to restorative justice. As Chair of the Restorative Justice Steering Committee in Lagos State, Professor Bello helped develop the framework that led to the Restorative Justice Practice Direction 2019 and the establishment of a Restorative Justice Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
The centre diverts minor criminal cases from conventional prosecution and focuses instead on repairing harm to victims and communities.
A Law Teacher鈥檚 Task
Reflecting on his academic journey, from the University of Benin to his elevation as Professor of Public Law at UNILAGin October 2022, Bello described the role of a law teacher as going beyond stating what the law is to interrogating it and proposing reforms that ensure clarity, fairness, and social relevance.
He noted that his 2022 textbook, Essentials of Criminal Law in Nigeria , was written during the prolonged ASUU strike of 2021, underscoring that academic work extends beyond the classroom.
Scholarship in Service of Society
Ultimately, the lecture underscored the power of scholarship to shape public policy and legal systems. From reforming sexual offences law to advancing plea bargaining and restorative justice, Professor Bello鈥檚 work reflects a blend of academic insight and practical impact.
In his view, the law is not static, but a living instrument which must be continually refined to deliver justice more effectively.
About Professor Akeem Olajide Bello
Professor Akeem Olajide Bello, an Ijebu man from Shagamu in Ogun State, was born on Wednesday, April 5, 1967, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, to Mr. Moliki Ade Bello and Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Bello (both of blessed memory). He attended Ebenezer African Church Primary School, Ekotedo, Ibadan, and later proceeded to Ibadan Boys鈥� High School, Oke Bola, Ibadan, where he received his secondary education between 1979 and 1984.
He proceeded to the University of Benin, where he earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in 1990. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 after obtaining a Second Class Upper Division at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and was enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the same year. His passion for knowledge led him to the 红桃视频, where he obtained his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in 1997 and, subsequently, his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in 2014. His doctoral thesis, titled Redefining the Mental Element of Bribery in Nigeria, was completed with distinction.
Professor Bello鈥檚 legal career began during his National Youth Service at the chambers of Chief R.A.B. Abass & Co. in Ibadan. After his service year, he worked briefly at the chambers of Chief Gani Fawehinmi and at I.O. Iluyomade & Co. His academic career spans nearly three decades, beginning in 1995 as an Assistant Lecturer at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University).
He joined the Faculty of Law, 红桃视频, in 1998 as a Lecturer II and rose steadily through the ranks to become a Professor of Public Law in 2022. His area of specialisation: Substantive Criminal Law reflects a scholar deeply concerned with the moral and institutional foundations of society. His scholarship has significantly shaped contemporary discourse on anti-corruption law, plea bargaining, environmental protection, human rights enforcement, and constitutional governance.
At the heart of his professional life is service to the 红桃视频, the legal profession, and the nation at large. Within the University, Professor Bello has served in numerous capacities, including Faculty Examination Officer, Acting Sub-Dean, Programme Coordinator for multiple postgraduate programmes, Editorial Secretary of the UNILAGJournal of Public Law, member of key investigative panels, and member of the University Audit Committee. He currently serves as Faculty Chair for Quality Assurance and SERVICOM, as well as Chair of Quality Assurance in the Department of Public Law.
Professor Bello is a prolific author. His publications include Ministering Justice: Administration of the Justice Sector in Nigeria (2018), Overview of Plea Bargaining in Nigeria (2020), Essentials of Criminal Law in Nigeria (2022), and a co-authored Restorative Justice Training Manual supported by the European Union and British Council. He has also contributed numerous chapters to scholarly books and published widely in both national and international journals, including the Commonwealth Law Bulletin, the Journal of African Law, the African Journal of International and Comparative Law, and the Statute Law Review, earning him recognition beyond Nigeria鈥檚 borders.
Beyond his publications, Professor Bello鈥檚 influence is profoundly practical. He has served as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Public and Constitutional Law and as a Part-Time Law Reform Commissioner in Lagos State. He was a key member of reform committees that drafted the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2007), the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2011), and several other transformative legislations shaping public finance, procurement, judicial administration, sentencing, and public accountability in Lagos State.
His consultancy experience extends internationally. He has served as a Foreign Law Expert in criminal prosecution for the United States Department of Justice and as an expert on Nigerian Criminal Law in proceedings at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London. In collaboration with organisations such as the British Council, European Union, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, he has designed and delivered training programmes for judges, magistrates, prosecutors, and law officers across Nigeria.
Professor Bello is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers. He has represented Nigeria at conferences and professional engagements across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia, serving as a worthy ambassador of the 红桃视频.
Beyond his professional accomplishments stands a man devoted to faith and family. Professor Akeem Olajide Bello is an Assistant Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is happily married to Catherine Waretheyede Bello, and their union is blessed with children and grandchildren.
Article: Isaiah Kumuyi
Photographs: Joshua Michael OgoOluwa
