A Nasarawa State High Court has convicted Fred Ayokhai, a lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), of conspiring with his children, Emmanuela Ayokhai, 18, Bob Praise Ayokhai, 23, and Saint-Dan Ayokhai, 21, to assault a female student, Blessing Mathias, a student over a man.
In October 2022, the lecturer was seen on film attacking Blessing, who had beaten up his daughter (Emmanuela) over a man they were both in a relationship with. They claimed to have taken Blessing to an unknown location and battered her naked.
They were detained and arraigned in court following the incident, with the professor charged with criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, abduction, and voluntarily causing grave hurt without provocation and assault. His children were named as the second, third, and fourth defendants in the case.
On Thursday, April 20, the presiding judge, Solomon Ayenajeh, delivered a verdict and sentenced the lecturer to six months in prison for criminal conspiracy and another six months for assault. The judge determined that the charges would run concurrently and that Ayokhai’s six months in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) would be counted.
Due to their ages, his children will serve six months on probation and will be punished by keeping the Nasarawa State High Court premises clean during their term. Bob-Praise was also ordered by the judge to shave his dreadlocks.
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