A Lagos-based self-proclaimed pastor, 45-year-old Ndukwe Ogbu, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for repeatedly defiling his biological daughter when she was just 14. The Ikeja Special Offences Court delivered the verdict on Monday, July 1, 2025, after finding Ogbu guilty on all three counts of defilement, sexual assault, and sexual assault by penetration.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, while delivering judgment, noted that the prosecution, led by the Lagos State Government, had provided overwhelming evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Key testimonies from the survivor, a medical expert, and a social worker painted a chilling picture of sustained abuse and manipulation.
According to court records, the survivor revealed that the assaults began shortly after her mother passed away. She testified that her father threatened her into silence but finally found the courage to confide in a schoolteacher, who immediately escalated the matter to the authorities.
Social worker Femi Oyeleke confirmed that he was alerted to the case by the schoolteacher and subsequently reported the incident to the police. A medical report presented during trial corroborated the survivor’s testimony, confirming physical evidence of repeated sexual abuse.
Despite the weight of evidence, Ogbu maintained his innocence during the trial, claiming he was not present during the times his daughter mentioned. He told the court that although they lived in the same house, she had her own room, and other siblings lived with relatives in the village.
Justice Abike-Fadipe, however, dismissed Ogbu’s defense as baseless and noted his complete lack of remorse. “His plea for leniency was purely selfish, based on the fact that he has other children to care for, without a single word of regret for the victim,” the judge stated.
The court sentenced him to three years for defilement and 25 years each for the two counts of sexual assault, with all sentences to run concurrently, effective from December 2019, when he was first remanded in custody.
