Thursday, June 19, 2025 - A S3xual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Peace Otti, has sentenced a 34-year-old schoolteacher, Pascal Ofomata, to 12 years in prison for r@ping his 11-year-old male student, who was in Junior Secondary School 1.
Ofomata, a teacher at St. Christopher’s Junior Seminary in
3-3 Onitsha, faced charges of rape and inflicting physical harm, both of which
are punishable under Sections 3(1) and 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons
Prohibition Law. He was also charged with sexual abuse under Section 35(2) of
the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State.
Despite pleading not guilty to the three-count indictment,
the court heard testimony from the investigating police officer and the medical
doctor who examined the victim during the trial. Although Ofomata denied
penetrating the boy, he admitted to acts that amounted to sexual abuse in his
police statement.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Otti convicted Ofomata
and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. Furthermore, the court prohibited him
from being employed in any establishment involving individuals under 18,
including primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
Justice Otti commended the Senior State Counsel leading the
prosecution, Chinelo Akorah, Esq., from the Anambra State Ministry of Justice,
for her compelling and comprehensive final address. She noted that it is rare
for cases of sexual offences against boys to reach a conclusive end and for
offenders to face justice.
In response to the verdict, the state Commissioner for Women
and Social Welfare, Hon. Ify Obinabo, expressed satisfaction with the Anambra
State justice system, stating that it delivers nothing short of justice. She
emphasised that this case is a significant step toward advocating for the
rights of the boy-child and raising awareness that boys can also be victims of
sexual violence.
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