Lagos court finds pastor guilty of child defilement, sexual assault and penetration, delivers landmark ruling affirming survivor’s testimony and child protection rights.
In a sobering judgment that reinforces the call for stricter protection of minors and zero tolerance for sexual abuse, a Lagos court has sentenced Pastor Ndukwe Ogbu, a 45-year-old clergyman, to 25 years in prison for defiling his 14-year-old biological daughter.
Delivering judgment on Monday at the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe declared that the prosecution had established a compelling case beyond reasonable doubt on all three counts against the Pastor—defilement, sexual assault, and sexual assault by penetration.
“The medical and social worker testimonies corroborated the victim’s account. The court is satisfied with the weight of evidence,” the judge ruled.
Justice Abike-Fadipe noted that the defendant, despite the gravity of his crime, showed no remorse and merely pleaded for leniency on account of having other children to cater for.
The court found him guilty on all counts, sentencing him to:
- 3 years on Count One (Defilement)
- 25 years each on Counts Two and Three (Sexual Assault and Sexual Assault by Penetration)
All sentences are to run concurrently, effective from December 2019, when Ogbu was first remanded.
Case Background and Trial Proceedings
The case was prosecuted by the Lagos State Government, reflecting its renewed efforts to clamp down on sexual and gender-based violence through the state’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
Ogbu was arraigned in February 2021, and trial commenced in October 2021. Over the course of the trial, the state presented three key witnesses, including:
- A social worker, Mr. Femi Oyeleke, who first reported the case to authorities;
- A medical doctor, whose examination supported the claims of repeated abuse; and
- The survivor herself, who gave a chilling but courageous testimony of the abuse she endured.
According to the survivor, the sexual assaults began when she was 14 years old and occurred multiple times within their shared apartment. She revealed that her father repeatedly threatened her into silence until she eventually confided in her schoolteacher, who alerted social services.
Despite his denials, Ogbu admitted to sharing the same home with the survivor, though he claimed she had her own room. He also confirmed that his other children lived with their maternal grandmother in the village following his wife’s death.
Analysis: Justice, Accountability, and the Rights of the Child
This ruling marks a watershed moment in Nigeria’s child rights enforcement and underscores the growing capacity of the judiciary to hold even religious figures accountable for crimes against minors. It also highlights the importance of safe reporting mechanisms within schools and communities, where survivors can turn for help.
BRANDECONOMY Rights Analysis:
“This case is emblematic of the systemic issues surrounding child abuse within supposedly sacred spaces. By securing a strong conviction and lengthy sentence, the Lagos judiciary has sent a strong signal that no one is above the law—least of all those who betray trust under the guise of parental or spiritual authority.”
Child rights advocates have welcomed the ruling, calling for continued investment in safe shelters, trauma counseling, survivor legal aid, and stronger enforcement of the Child Rights Act across Nigeria’s 36 states.
