Anambra teacher bags 12-year jail for defiling 11-year-old male student

Court

A Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Peace Otti, has sentenced a 34-year-old schoolteacher to 12 years’ imprisonment for defiling his 11-year-old male JSS 1 student.

The defendant, Pascal Ofomata, was charged with rape and inflicting physical harm punishable under Section 3(1) and 4(1), respectively, of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the offence of Sexual Abuse punishable under Section 35(2) of the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State.

Ofomata, a teacher at St Christopher’s Junior Seminary, 3-3 Onitsha, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

However, during the trial, the court evaluated evidence, including testimony from the investigating police officer and the medical doctor who examined the victim.Although he denied penetrating the boy, Ofomata admitted to acts amounting to sexual abuse, according to his police statement.

Delivering judgment, Justice Otti convicted the defendant and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment.

In the court documents obtained on Wednesday, the court also barred him from working in any institution involving minors, including primary, secondary, and tertiary schools. Punch