Court Convicts Lecturer Who Assaulted Student For ‘Snatching’ Daughter’s Lover

High court in Nasarawa state has convicted a lecturer of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), Fred Ayokhai for assaulting a female student, Blessing Mathias.

In October 2022, Gatekeepers News reported that Ayokhai, who works at the History and International Relations department of the institution, was caught on camera with his children assaulting and stripping the 20-year-old Mathias naked.

In the video that surfaced on social media, Ayokhai ripped off the singlet of Mathias with scissors.

Mathias was also flogged and dropped off naked in the bush.

Subsequently, the police arrested Ayokhaithe lecturer and his daughter, Emmanuella, who allegedly orchestrated the attack on Mathias for “snatching” her lover.

Ayokhai was charged with criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, abduction and voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation and assault.

Meanwhile, Emmanuella, Bob-Praise, and Saint-Dan, all children of Ayokhai were joined in the case as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants.

Although the defendants had pleaded not guilty upon arraignment, their counsel, AU Idris approached the court with an offer for a plea bargain.

The presiding judge, Solomon Ayenajeh, while delivering his judgement on Thursday convicted the first defendant and sentenced him to six months in jail for criminal conspiracy and another six months for assault.

The charges are to run concurrently.

Justice Ayenajeh noted that the six months period in which Ayokhai has been in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) will be reckoned with.

The judge while ruling on the offenses of the children, said they will spend six months on probation considering their ages.

He added that they will be tasked with keeping the premises of the Nasarawa state high court clean during their sentence.

Justice Ayenajeh also directed the third defendant, Bob-Praise, to shave his dreadlocks.

In his allocution, Ayokhai appreciated the judge and parties in the matter for the consideration and the leniency accorded him.

The lecturer added that he has taken steps to compensate the victim as part of the plea bargain arrangement.