A senior lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia was sentenced to prison by a high court in the Obi local government area of Nasarawa State for allegedly attacking 20-year-old Blessing Mathias, a female student.
According to reports, Dr. Fred Ayokahi, the convicted felon, has been held at the Nigeria Correctional Services facility in Lafia since October 2022 following his arrest for offenses involving criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, kidnapping, and voluntarily causing great bodily harm without provocation.
He was reportedly charged alongside his children Saint-Dan Ayokahsas, Emmanuella Ayokahi, and Bob-Praise Ayokahi as the second, third, and fourth accused, respectively, while one other accomplice is still at large.
After his clients admitted guilt to the crime, defense attorney Barr. A. U. Idris requested a plea deal from the court.
The accusations against the first and fourth defendants were changed after it was learned that both parties had agreed to the plea deal.
The second through fourth defendants and the guilty party were previously accused of two counts of criminal conspiracy and physical assault with a weapon, which violated sections 96 and 264 of the Penal Code and was punishable under sections 97 and 265 of the Penal Code, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
Justice S. W. Ayenajeh presided over the case on April 20, 2023, and found the first defendant guilty and sentenced him to six months in prison for criminal conspiracy and another six months for assault.
The judge stated that in light of Ayokahi’s plea, his sentence will be served concurrently. The judge also stated that the six months the guilty lecturer had spent in the Nigeria Correctional Service’s detention will be taken into account.
According to the terms of the plea agreement and taking into account the ages of his children, the second through fourth defendants were ordered to maintain the Nasarawa State High Court of Justice’s grounds tidy for six months, while the third defendant was warned to remove his unruly beard.
Dr. Ayokahi expressed his gratitude to His Lordship and the other parties involved for their consideration and leniency.
The convict, however, drew the court’s attention to the fact that, as a father and a teacher in the federal institution, he was not and had never been found wanting in the discharge of his duties. He also added that, as part of his agreement to the plea deal, he had taken additional steps to make up for the victim, Blessing Mathias.
Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, the state attorney general, and prosecutor claimed that the government’s action was intended to provide the defendant, especially the kids, a second opportunity at life.
