In a recent ruling at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, a head teacher named Benjamin Ogba was handed a life sentence for defiling two seven-year-old girls. The judge found the prosecution’s case solid, establishing beyond doubt the act of defilement to the court’s satisfaction. The defense witnesses were discredited for their dishonesty during the trial.
Describing the convict as a “serial paedophile,” Justice Abiola Soladoye emphasized the gravity of the crime committed by someone in a position of trust. She commended the bravery of the two survivors for speaking out against their abuser and stressed the importance of reporting sexual abuse cases.
Soladoye urged parents to remain vigilant in reporting such incidents to the authorities and highlighted the need for continuous education and awareness on addressing sexual offenses. The judge sentenced Ogba to life imprisonment for each count of defilement, with the punishment to run concurrently, and his name to be added to the Sex Offences Register in Lagos State.
During the trial, the state prosecution presented three witnesses, while the defense called four witnesses. The prosecutor detailed how the offences took place at Shalom Private School in Lagos, with one of the girls bravely informing her mother, leading to police involvement. The prosecutor cited the violation of Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 in the case.