CRIME
Teacher Bags Life Imprisonment for Sodomising 14-year-old Boy
A Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old teacher, Bright Emelogu, to life imprisonment for sodomising his 14-year-old old student.
Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja held that Emelogu was amoral, callous, reckless and everything a teacher should not.
Soladoye said that the convict inflicted physical,emotional and psychological trauma of the survivor.
According to her, the evidence of the survivor was corroborated with the evidence of the nominal complainant, his aunt and the medical report from Mirabel Medical Centre in Ikeja.
She said: ” the survivor in this case narrated before this court that the defendant was his class teacher and that he complained to his aunt that he was not doing well in school.
“The survivor said ‘he (defendant) told his aunt that he was dumb which made the aunt arrange an after-school lesson with the defendant.
“The survivor said the defendant ordered him to go into the school toilet and but he refused which made him threaten to fail the survivor in his third term examination, if he did not obey him.
“The survivor said he eventually co-operated with the defendant because he was afraid and he followed him to the toilet”.
The judge maintained that the testimony of the survivor was truthful truthful and the evidence of the survivor’s aunt was straightforward and unambiguous.
She added that the medical report which was tendered in the court revealed healings in the anus area and lacerations which were consistent to the anus, were not pile related.
She said the defense written address to discharge and acquit the was of no moment as the prosecution proved each of the ingredients of sexual assault by penetration against the defendant.
According to her, the evidence of the defendant was self serving, untruthful and contradictory as he denied writing a statement.
She said: “his own confessional statement which he denied ever writing was admitted into evidence in this court.
“Exhibit A, the statement of the defendant, exhibit B, statement of nominal complainant and exhibit C, the medical report are self explanatory and pertinent to convict the defendant
“The same exhibit A is crucial as it is the confessional statement of the defendant which is good as granting conviction.
“This paedophile, Bright Emelogu, is a disgrace to the teaching profession and he must pay for his sexual indiscretions.
“Hopefully, this will also serve to other male teachers like him to desist from messing around with the innocence of their students,”
The, judge, having found the defendant guilty of the one count charge, sentenced him to life imprisonment.
She ordered that the defendant have his name registered in the sexual offences register as maintained by Lagos State Government.
Soladoye called on school proprietors to be selective and conduct due diligence on their staff before recruiting them.
She said said schools at all time should encourage students and pupils to speak up whenever they were sexually molested.
“I know they might be afraid to do so but this is to their own advantage as they can report same to appropriate authorities.
“Association of school proprietors as a matter of fact should hold conferences, meetings to encourage pupils and children to speak up.
“A teacher is to teach morals and impact knowledge but alas! this defendant is everything a teacher should not be,” Soladoye said.
The judge added that quality and dependable staff must be recruited in the teaching profession as the welfare of students must be upheld at all time.
The state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke called three witnesses while the defendant testified as sole witness.
The offence violated Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (NAN)
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Days after the Chairman of Katcha local government area of Niger State, Danlami Abdullahi Saku was assaulted and seriously injured over his inability to settle a campaign loan he obtained, the State Police Command said three suspects were now in their custody over the incident.
Niger State Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun in a release on Wednesday said On 16/06/2024 at about 1800hrs, information was received at Katcha Div that the Chairman Katcha LGA Hon.
Danlami Abdullahi Saku was attacked by some miscreants along Saku-Gadza village after the Sallah prayer at his village Saku, Katcha LGA.According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the attack was allegedly reported to be linked to a debt issue between the Chairman and one Yanda of the same area.
He noted that the Chairman sustained serious injury during the attack and he was taken to Gen. Hospital Bida, and later referred to another hospital for further treatment.
A preliminary investigation was conducted at Katcha Div and three suspects were later identified, apprehended and transferred to Bida Area Command.
The suspects arrested are; Alh. Abdullahi Kasimu 68yrs of Gadza village, Katcha, Alh. Baba Moh’d 30yrs of the same village and Ahmadu Moh’d 25yrs.
The suspects were transferred to SCID on June 21st for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“During interrogation, Kasimu narrated that he lent the victim over a million naira since August, 2023 and that several attempts to recover the money proved abortive.
“He further said that on June 16th, the victim promised to come and see him, and while he was on the way after the Sallah prayer, his son Ahmadu Moh’d, his in-law Alh. Baba Moh’d among others accosted the Chairman, had an altercation and inflicted serious injuries on the victims”
The State Police Command acknowledged that the victim was about to transfer the money to him at the point before being rushed to the hospital.
However, the suspects are under investigation in SCID, Minna. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others at large, and they will be charged to court for prosecution immediately after investigations.
There was a drama as the sacrificial ram of the Chief Imam of the Mista Ali community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Imam Abdulkadir went missing on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
Abdulkadir’s ram was reportedly stolen during a downpour in the area on the eve of the Ed-el-Kabir.
An Imam in the community, Haruna Yaqub, disclosed this during the sermon, shortly after the two Raka’at prayers.
Yaqub, who condemned the incident, described it as “insensitive”.
He added that the act showed that people lack fear for God.
The Imam said, “The Ram of our Chief Imam, which he purposely brought to sacrifice, has been stolen in the night.
We are really shocked by the incident. We were surprised to hear this story. This means that people are not God-fearing.“It is scary that people have gone to the extent of stealing ram meant for religious activity.”
Speaking further, he urged people to be God-fearing and not engage in either stealing or any act of criminality.
He stressed that everyone will account for their actions on earth and hereafter.
“It is high time people repented and took the path of Allah. It is not too late. People should stop committing bad things and act according to Allah’s commandments,” he urged.
A Student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Modupe Ayandare, was found dead on Monday after attending a church vigil.
The death of Ayandare, who is of the Department of Agronomy, was made known by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution.
“We express in strong terms our dissatisfaction and agony with respect to the death of one of our students, Miss Modupe Ayandare of the Department of Agronomy.
“According to report, the deceased was said to have committed suicide in the early hours of today at about 4:00am after she returned from a vigil in her church.
“The incident happened beside the church she attended, around Spotless Villa.
“The law enforcement agency has been informed already, and all hands are on deck to get to the root of the situation.
“Be assured that justice will be served and the law enforcement agency will undertake thorough investigation,” Mr Emmanuel Olaogbebikan, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the SUG, stated.
He asked anybody with useful information regarding the incident to give to the concerned authorities to come forward.
Also mourning the death of the student, the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS), AAUA Chapter, said the loss deeply affected the department.
Faith Igba, the PRO of the department, said the demise of Ayandare was a profound loss to the department.
Igba urged the members of the department to come together and be of help to one another, asking those going through challenges to seek help.
“During this difficult time, we urge everyone to come together in support of each other. The mental well-being of our members is of utmost importance, and we encourage anyone who may be struggling to seek help.
“Our faculty offers counselling services, and we are here to support you in any way we can.
“Please join me in extending our deepest condolences to Comrade Modupe’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Let us honour her memory by fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for all,” he said.
Speaking on the death of Ayandare, Victor Akinpelumi, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, said that the institution had confirmed the incident but was yet to know the cause of the death.
Akinpelumi, who sympathised with the family of the deceased, said that the institution would make an official statement known to the public as regards the death later.
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