Connect with us

Metro News

Teacher bags life jail for defiling six-year-old girl

Published

on

 

Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Monday, sentenced a 41-year-old teacher of the Mind Builders Nursery and Primary School, Omole Phase 11, Ikeja, Chukwu Ndubuisi, to life imprisonment for raping a six-year-old girl on the school premises.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, who sentenced Ndubuisi, held that the prosecution was able to prove the charge of defilement against the defendant.

The convict committed the offence in June 2016.

Ndubuisi, who was a part-time art teacher at the school, was arraigned on October 4, 2016, at an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on a charge of forceful penetration to which he pleaded not guilty.

 Justice Olufunke Sule-Amzat, who was a Magistrate when Ndubusi was arraigned, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two verifiable sureties that must be blood relations with evidence of gainful employment.

The case was later assigned to Justice Ogunsanya after the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution came out.

See also  JUST IN: Tinubu leaves for China on state visit

During the trial, the prosecution called 13 witnesses while the defendant called nine witnesses.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Ogunsanya, cited several authorities, and held that the prosecution proved its case against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge held,” The fact, circumstances, and quality of evidence against the defendant was compelling. The first time the victim told her mother of her experience was when she (the mother) was discussing the case of a seven-year-old girl that was defiled and killed which went viral.

“The account of the victim and that of her mother was uncontroverted, corroborated each other, and they gave a good account of the sexual assault.”

Ogunsanya noted that the defendant usually sent the victim’s friend to call her and that the first time the defendant defiled her was in the female toilet.

The judge said that the second time the defendant defiled the victim was in the art room of the school.

See also  Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In Nigerian Newspapers Today: US govt returns Diezani’s $52.88m loot

She said, “The victim told the court that sometimes, her teacher (defendant) asked her to remove her uniform and put his ‘bumbum’ into her ‘bum bum’.

“At another time, he called her into the art room, he put her on the table, parted her panties, and put his thing into my thing. She said the victim told the court that when the defendant is finished, he would clean up the victim with water.”

The court said the defendant had unhindered access to the child and defiled her several times.

Justice Ogunsanya expunged the evidence of two prosecution witnesses who were medical doctors for being contradictory, pointing out that they did not come as expert witnesses.

She also dismissed the submission by the defence witnesses that the incident was not recorded on the school’s CCTV.

Ogunsanya upheld the result of the test conducted at the Mirabel Centre which showed that the victim had torn hymen and reddish vulva and that there was evidence of forceful penetration.

See also  ‘Many killed’ as gunmen attack Benue community

The judge, therefore, convicted the defendant as charged.

Counsel to the defendant, Olagunju pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy saying that no case of improper behaviour had ever been brought against the defendant nor had he ever had any case at any police station until this case.

But the state prosecutor, Kareem Jubril, argued that the law under which the defendant was charged did not give the court any discretion.

He urged the court to impose the mandatory sentence stipulated in the law.

Justice Ogunsanya subsequently sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment.

She said, “The defendant (Ndubuisi) is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the defilement of a child.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Metro News

Woman jumps into Lagos lagoon, rescued by boat operators

Published

on

By

A yet-to-be-identified woman has been rescued after reportedly jumping into the lagoon from the Idumota end of the Carter Bridge in Lagos state.

The incident, which reportedly drew the attention of passersby and local boat operators, occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, nearby boat operators responded and brought the woman back to safety.

video circulating on social media showed the woman, seated in a rescue boat shortly after she was brought out of the water.

The footage, shared on X by a user identified as CHUKS, also showed people gathered on the bridge expressing concern about the woman’s condition.

Some bystanders could be heard appealing to the boat operators to ensure that she received appropriate care.

The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm the woman’s identity and condition.

See also  BREAKING: Emeka Ihedioha dumps PDP

Continue Reading

Metro News

Police seize truck-load of fake drug warehouses in Lagos, arrest two

Published

on

By

The Lagos State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered two warehouses allegedly used for repackaging counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspected members of a syndicate involved in the interstate and cross-border distribution of fake drugs.

Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,  disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit in the Ijora Olopa area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, were arrested during an intelligence-led operation by detectives attached to the unit.

The police boss said the suspects were apprehended at a warehouse located at Number 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were allegedly repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to various parts of Nigeria.

He said the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of the syndicate.

According to the police commissioner, “The suspects, Eze Okwudilichukwu ‘m’ 52 years, and Chukwudi Mba ‘m’ 42 years, were arrested at their warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were found repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to different parts of Nigeria.

See also  JUST IN: Tinubu leaves for China on state visit

“Following their arrest and interrogation, the suspects led detectives to another warehouse, where a duly executed search warrant was carried out. During the search, a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products, bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), was recovered alongside other exhibits.”

The police boss said items recovered during the operation included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole; six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton, and other pharmaceutical products; and about 10 cartons of suspected adulterated Ampiclox, Viagra, and other drugs.

The CP noted that more than 300 empty printed packs and cartons were used to repackage counterfeit medicines.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had been involved in the repackaging and distribution of suspected adulterated drugs for over two years.

He added that detectives uncovered evidence suggesting that the products were supplied to different parts of Nigeria, while large consignments were also destined for Lomé, Togo, indicating the existence of a transnational distribution network.

See also  Wasted: Police discover three shallow graves of armed robbers in Ebonyi

“The investigation also suggests that the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State.

“While the production facility has not yet been located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest all those connected with the operation, and bring them to justice,” Fatai said.

The commissioner also alleged that attempts were made to compromise the investigation after the suspects were arrested.

“It is pertinent to state that since the arrest of the suspects, desperate attempts have been made through different channels to induce officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit to release both the suspects and the recovered exhibits.

“I wish to categorically state that these attempts were firmly resisted. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity, and the rule of law, and no amount of pressure or inducement will derail the course of justice,” he added.

Tijani said the suspects, recovered exhibits, and case file had been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and possible prosecution.

See also  Wike slams Atiku, says he's unworthy of Rivers votes

He explained that the handover was necessary because the case falls within the regulatory mandate of the agency.

The CP commended operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for what he described as a professional and intelligence-driven operation while urging members of the public to provide useful information on the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other criminal activities.

Continue Reading

Metro News

NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden in wooden mortar, backpack bound for China, Italy

Published

on

By

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered fresh attempts by drug syndicates to export cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar and a specially modified backpack destined for China and Italy.

This was contained in a statement released by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and shared on X on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, one of the consignments involved cocaine concealed inside a traditional wooden mortar, a local tool commonly used for pounding yam and grains, which was being shipped to China.

The agency added that another cocaine shipment destined for Italy was discovered concealed in the false bottom of a backpack hidden among lace materials.

He wrote, “Mortar is a traditional local wooden tool commonly used for pounding yams or grains but was used to conceal cocaine consignment heading to China in one of the latest seizures by #ndlea_nigeria officers who also discovered another shipment of cocaine going to Italy in the false bottom of a backpack hidden in lace materials.

See also  Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In Nigerian Newspapers Today: US govt returns Diezani’s $52.88m loot

“Beware of every parcel you’re given to deliver. Remember the key word for liability is possession!”

Continue Reading

Trending News