Lagos, Nigeria – Ndukwe Ogbu, a 45-year-old pastor, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual assault of his 14-year-old daughter. The judgment was handed down by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday, with the news confirmed by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) on Thursday via their X page.
Ogbu was convicted on charges of “sexual assault by penetration” and other related offenses. He received a three-year sentence on the first count and 25 years each on the second and third counts, with all sentences to run concurrently.
The pastor’s legal troubles began in February 2021 when he was arraigned, with his trial commencing in October of the same year.
During the harrowing trial, the prosecution presented three key witnesses: a social worker, the victim, and the doctor who examined the child. Femi Oyeleke, the social worker, was instrumental in reporting the case to the authorities.
The victim, now a survivor, bravely testified against her father, identifying him in court. She recounted that the abuse began when she was 14 years old. In her testimony, she described how Ogbu would enter her room naked, remove her clothes, and force himself on her. She further revealed that these incidents of sexual intercourse occurred on multiple occasions, with her father threatening her to maintain silence.
The court also heard how the victim eventually confided in her school teacher, who then alerted the social worker, leading to the case being reported to the police.
Despite the defense's attempts to deny the allegations, with Ogbu asserting that his daughter had memory issues, the court ultimately found these claims unconvincing and proceeded with the sentencing.