Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a Social Studies teacher, David Oddion, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old pupil of a private school.

Oddion was convicted on two counts brought against him by the Lagos State Government. He received a life sentence for sexual assault by penetration and an additional seven-year jail term for indecent treatment of a child.

The court ruled that both sentences will run concurrently, beginning from the date of his arrest on February 8, 2021. Justice Oshodi also ordered that Oddion’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

The incident, which happened at Hilltop Grade International School (HGIS), Agungi Road, Lekki, Lagos  came into the open when the victim, a Grade 3 pupil, informed her mother, that her teacher was “weird.”

Upon further questioning, the child revealed a pattern of abuse, stating that the defendant had touched her private parts more than 10  times.

The incident led  to the arrest of the convict who was a Social Studies teacher in the school,  by the police.

During trial, the court heard that Oddion had set aside the exam scripts of five students who failed, calling them into his classroom one by one for corrections.

The court heard that the  victim was the third student called and that after the other students had gone home, the defendant remained alone with the victim, during which time point he penetrated her with his finger.

Read Also:

Church cleaner sentenced to life in jail for sexually assaulting baby

The court heard that the convict  removed her underwear, touched her, kissed her on the forehead and cheeks, and hugged her before her mother arrived to pick her  up at about  3:00 pm.

 Following the child’s disclosure, her mother confronted the school’s  head teacher, Mrs. Linda.

The court heard that  the defendant initially denied the allegations, but his account was inconsistent.

After the school head advised him that only the truth would set him free, the convict confessed to the acts.

The court was told that this led to his immediate arrest and a subsequent medical examination of the survivor at a private hospital by Dr. Makanjuola, who also testified as a witness in the matter.

 During the trial, the prosecution team, I.E. Sholarin, S.O. Adesina, and I.E. Balogun, argued that the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming.

Delivering  judgment in the matter, Justice Oshodi noted that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge remarked on the defendant’s position as a mentor and trainer, stating that parents entrust their children to teachers and that such a gross violation of trust was unacceptable. The judge also observed that the defendant had shown no remorse throughout the proceedings.

The defense counsel, H.O. Ndubuisi, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the defendant was a student at an Open University and a first-time offender.

However, Justice Oshodi maintained that the law must take its course to serve as a deterrent to others and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.