Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of a Lagos State Sexual Offences Court has sentenced a 45-year-old pastor, Ndukwe Ogbu, to 25 years in prison for assault and related charges involving his 14-year-old daughter.
The court found Ogbu guilty on a three-count charge brought against him by the Lagos State government.
Justice Abike-Fadipe ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge noted that Ogbu showed no remorse, despite his plea for leniency, claiming he had other children to care for. The court observed the evident trauma experienced by the victim, who had been in the care of the government for three years before testifying.
The charges against Ogbu included assault, assault by penetration, and related offences. He was arraigned in February 2021, with the trial commencing in October of the same year.
During the trial, the prosecution presented witnesses, including a social worker, the victim, and a doctor who examined the child.
The social worker, Femi Oyeleke, reported the case to the police, while the victim testified and identified Ogbu as her father.
The defence denied the allegations, with Ogbu claiming he was not present at the time of the incidents. He also alleged the victim had memory issues.
However, the court found his claims unconvincing, relying on corroborated testimony from the victim, the doctor, and the social worker.
Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced Ogbu to three years on the first count and 25 years each on the second and third counts, with the terms to run concurrently. The sentence was backdated to December 2019, when he was first remanded in custody.