Pastor jailed for defilement of 14-year-old daughter as Lagos court sentences Ndukwe Ogbu to 25 years following chilling testimony and medical evidence
Pastor jailed for defilement has become one of the most chilling headlines in Lagos after a 45-year-old cleric, Ndukwe Ogbu, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual abuse of his teenage daughter.
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The disturbing verdict, handed down by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe at the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday, exposed the dark betrayal by a man expected to protect and nurture.
Ogbu was convicted on three counts — defilement, sexual assault, and sexual assault by penetration — in a case that has left the Ikeja community stunned.
The survivor, his 14-year-old biological daughter, gave a courageous testimony that played a key role in ensuring justice.
According to the judge, the evidence presented by the prosecution, led by the Lagos State Government, was overwhelming and left no room for doubt.
“Based on the evidence presented before the court, the defendant is found guilty on all three counts,” Justice Abike-Fadipe ruled. “He is sentenced to three years on count one.
On counts two and three, he is sentenced to 25 years each. The sentences shall run concurrently and will be effective from December 2019, when he was remanded in custody.”
The sentencing followed an emotionally charged trial, where the survivor gave a vivid account of the repeated abuse.
She told the court that her father had sexual intercourse with her on several occasions and threatened her into silence.
Her decision to confide in a schoolteacher marked a turning point. That teacher contacted social worker Femi Oyeleke, who subsequently reported the case to the police, leading to Ogbu’s arrest and prosecution.
Oyeleke, the first prosecution witness, provided critical details that matched the girl’s account. He was joined by a medical doctor, whose findings offered clinical evidence of the abuse.
Despite the damning testimonies, Ogbu pleaded not guilty and took the stand as his only defence witness. He claimed he was not home when the incidents allegedly occurred.
However, he acknowledged living in the same apartment as his daughter, who had her own room, and confirmed his wife had died, with his other children living in the village.
The court found his defence contradictory and unconvincing. Justice Abike-Fadipe pointed out Ogbu’s complete lack of remorse, especially as he showed more concern for his remaining children than for the trauma inflicted on his daughter.
Ogbu’s plea for leniency was firmly rejected. “My curse will follow those sitting on the money for the rest of their lives,” he had earlier said in another context, but this time, the court ensured that justice followed him for his crimes.
The judge acknowledged the survivor’s bravery in coming forward despite the threats and emotional trauma. Her actions, supported by her schoolteacher, social worker, and medical professionals, helped ensure a rare but significant conviction.
Legal observers praised the court’s thoroughness and called the verdict a victory for child protection in Lagos.
“This case is a powerful reminder that silence protects perpetrators. Her decision to speak up changed everything,” one child rights advocate said.
The trial began on October 18, 2021, following Ogbu’s arraignment in February that year. In total, three witnesses and several key exhibits dismantled the defence’s argument.
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The News Agency of Nigeria confirmed that the court relied heavily on corroborating evidence from the survivor, the social worker, and the medical report to arrive at its decision.
