Emmanuel Ukudolo l Wednesday, April 26, 2023
IKEJA, Nigeria – A Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja today sentenced Onyekachi Agu, a 32-year old carpenter to seven years imprisonment for attacking his ex-girlfriend, Aishat Adeferati and her new lover Mansur Ahmed with acid.
The incident happened July 3, 2020 at Gangare Hotel, Mile 12, Lagos. Justice Oyindamola Ogala read his judgement following successful prosecution of the matter.
According to the prosecutor, Uju Uwangaze, the defendant traced the victims to the hotel where he bathed the two of them with acid, contrary to section 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. An allegation Agu denied earlier in court despite his confessional statement at a lower court.
Justice Ogala held that the confession of the defendant is consistent and supported with supporting evidence. “Onyekachi Agu, the court has found you guilty of one-count charge, do you have anything to say before I sentence you?”, the judge inquired.
The defendant remained silent when the sentence was pronounced on him before a crowded courtroom.
Trouble began for the convict following a rocky relationship between the defendant and his ex-girlfriend. The defendant disclosed in his testimony that his girlfriend was pregnant for him and aborted it before settling down with her new lover. But Aishat testified that the defendant was in the habit of harassing her which led to separation after three years of unholy romance.
The court held that retraction of the defendant’s confession was meant to deceive the court, having pleaded guilty at his arraignment before a lower court. Justice Ogala noted that the victim, the PW2 Mansur Ahmed suffered serious bodily harm affecting his face, eye, neck and even the money in his pocket.
The prosecution held that the scar on the arm of the defendant was sustained during the attack on the victims, when he poured acid on the victims through the hotel’s window.
The Investigation Police Officer who was Prosecution Witness, PW4, testified during the trial, submitted during cross examination that though PW 1 and PW2 did not see the person that poured the acid, but suspected the defendant because he has been attacking and harassing them prior to the acid bath.
“The defendant did not present any evidence to support his alibi”, the court held. Following the conviction, the Defence Counsel, from the Office of Public Defender, U.E Omolola pleaded with the judge to consider that the defendant, being a young man.
“I’m sure he has learned his lesson.” Before handing down the jail term, the judge asked the victim present in court to step forward and asked him, “Have you been able to get further treatment for yourself? ‘No my lord’, he said. When the defendant finally found his voice, Onyekachi said, “I want to tell the court that it should have mercy on me and I’m sorry, the judge interjected and said, “There is nothing wrong with me.”
The convict subsequently faced Ahmed, and said “I’m sorry sir.” Thereafter, her lordship ruled in accordance with Section 245 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, which stipulated seven years of conviction for causing bodily harm to anyone.
According to her, “The defendant is hereby sentenced to imprisonment of seven years with hard labour and the sentence is to run concurrently.”