In a recent development, the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a 32-year-old carpenter, Onyekachi Agu, to seven years in prison for pouring acid on his ex-girlfriend, Aishat Adefarati, and his rival, Mansur Ahmed, in 2020. Justice Oyindamola Ogala handed down the verdict after finding the defendant guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to the victims.
According to the state prosecutor, Uju Uwangaze, the convict committed the crime on July 3, 2020, at Gangare Hotel in Mile 12, Lagos. Uwangaze claimed that the defendant traced the victims to the hotel and poured acid on them, an offense that violated Section 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
During the trial, the defendant testified that his girlfriend had gotten pregnant for him and later aborted the baby. However, the victim, Aishat Adefarati, testified that the defendant was in the habit of harassing her, which led to their separation after three years of a relationship.
In her judgment, Justice Ogala held that the confessional statement of the defendant was consistent and supported by other evidence, and the court could convict him on the statement. The judge also noted that the scar on the defendant’s arm was sustained during the attack on the victims when he poured acid on them through the hotel’s window.
The court found the defendant guilty on the basis of his confessional statement and sentenced him accordingly. The judge further held that the retraction of the convict was meant to deceive the court, having pleaded guilty at his arraignment before a lower court.
Justice Ogala emphasized the severity of the offense, stating that the victim, Mansur Ahmed, suffered severe bodily harm affecting his face, eye, neck, and even the money in his pocket. The judge also highlighted the importance of ensuring that justice was served in cases of domestic violence and abuse.
The Lagos State High Court has delivered a landmark judgment by sentencing Onyekachi Agu to seven years imprisonment for pouring acid on his ex-girlfriend and his rival. The court’s decision sends a clear message that domestic violence and abuse will not be tolerated in Lagos State.