A Lagos State court has sentenced a music teacher, Anthony Okeh, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old pupil.
The conviction was delivered on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, by Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
Okeh, a 35-year-old former staff member of Lachez O International School in Agege, was found guilty of defiling the minor on September 6, 2022, within the school premises.
He served as both a music teacher and counsellor at the institution before his arrest and prosecution.
The case was brought to light after the victim’s mother reported the incident to the police, prompting an investigation by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
During the trial, state counsel Abimbola Abolade presented two witnesses: the survivor and the investigating police officer.
The defence called four witnesses in its attempt to counter the charges.
In delivering her judgment, Justice Soladoye condemned Okeh’s actions, describing him as “a soulless man without any iota of shame” and “everything a teacher should not be.”
She further labelled him a “pathological liar” and ruled that his name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
The court found Okeh guilty of a one-count charge of defilement and imposed a life sentence as stipulated under Nigerian law for such offences.
In a statement released Thursday, the DSVA encouraged members of the public to continue reporting cases of domestic and sexual violence.
The agency reiterated its commitment to justice and urged schools to uphold stringent moral standards in hiring staff.
Reports of abuse can be made through the DSVA’s toll-free hotline: 08000-333-333.