School Teacher, 34, Gets 12 Years for Defiling Underage Student

An Anambra State High Court, a sexual and gender-based assault court located in Awka, has sentenced a 34-year-old school teacher to 12 years in prison for raping an 11-year-old student.

Mr Pascal Ofomata, the instructor, was found guilty of defiling the kid, who is a Junior Secondary one student at St Christopher’s Junior Seminary in the 3-3 area of Onitsha.

The sitting judge, Justice Peace Otti, spoke shortly after handing down the judgment, praising the prosecution counsel, Chinelo Akorah Esq., for his diligence and intelligence in taking the case to its conclusion.

She was cited as noting that Akorah’s closing speech was riveting and comprehensive. She stated that it is extremely rare for instances involving sexual offenses against boys to be resolved and criminals punished.

The defendant had previously denied having canal knowledge of the boy, claiming that he never penetrated the victim’s anus. However, he did confess that the victim swallowed his penis and told him to kiss him.

The court, however, upheld the case following an intense and compelling trial that included testimony from the investigating police officer and the doctor who examined the victim.

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The defendant was convicted and sentenced to twelve years in jail.

Pascal Ofomata had already pleaded not guilty to the three-count allegation filed against him.

He was accused with rape and physical harm to the youngster, all of which are criminal under Anambra State’s Violence against Persons Prohibition Law, Sections 3(1) and 4(1), respectively.

The third charge against him is sexual abuse, which is punishable under Anambra State’s Child’s Rights Law, Section 35 (2).

Furthermore, the court forbade him from working in any establishment that employs people under the age of 18, including primary, secondary, and higher institutions.