By Elizabeth Eze
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence sentenced an Arabic teacher, Oladosu Sakiru to 21 years’ imprisonment for attempting to sexually assault his 13-year old girl.
Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Sakiru after he pleaded guilty to the amended two-count charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration and indecent treatment of a child.
The judge berated the convict for breaching the trust the parents of the survivor had in him for enrolling their children in the islamic school.
Justice Oshodi said that religious leaders, teachers such as the convict held a sacred place in the society and when such individuals broke the trust placed in them by preying upon children, the court must respond with appropriate severity to reflect society’s condemnation and to deter others from committing similar acts.
Justice Oshodi noted that the evidence before court deduced a pattern of predatory behavior as the convict subjected the survivor into inappropriate touching and forced himself on her.
According to him, when the convict is confronted with his action, he seeks refuge in the often repeated phrase “it was the work of the devil”.
“As an Arabic school teacher, you occupy a position of significant trust, that trust extended not only to the 13-year-old child, the one you victimised but also to her parents and the entire community who look to you for spiritual and moral guidance”, he concluded.
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