THE IKEJA Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday sentenced Anthony Okeh, a 35-year-old music teacher and counsellor, to life imprisonment for defiling a nine-year-old pupil (name withheld).
Presiding Justice Abiola Soladoye ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of defilement against the defendant.
In her judgment, Justice Soladoye described Okeh as “a pathological liar, devoid of remorse, and the antithesis of what an educator should represent,” citing his unlawful sexual acts with the minor.
The court found the survivor’s testimony to be clear, credible, and corroborated by evidence, rendering the convict’s denial unconvincing.
Justice Soladoye stated: “The denial by the convict appears to be an attempt to dissociate himself from the crime. His testimony lacked credibility, as did those of the defense witnesses, whose accounts were inconsistent and unreliable.”
The survivor testified that Okeh lured her into the music room, exposed her to explicit material, claimed to be a cultist, and threatened her life to ensure her silence.
Medical and investigative reports further substantiated the allegations, confirming multiple instances of abuse.
The Investigative Police Officer (IPO) affirmed that the victim’s mother reported the crime after noticing her daughter’s reluctance to attend school, prompting the minor’s eventual disclosure of the assaults.
Justice Soladoye convicted Okeh on one count of defilement under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015) and ordered his inclusion in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
She urged school administrators to prioritize ethical standards in hiring educators to safeguard students.
“All stakeholders in criminal justice must collaborate to combat sexual violence, ensuring the protection of survivors’ dignity and mental well-being,” she emphasized.
The prosecution, led by State Counsel Miss Abimbola Abolade, presented two witnesses, while the defense called four. The offense occurred on September 6, 2022, at Lachez O International School in Agege, Lagos. (NAN)
