Former OAU sex-for-mark lecturer sentenced to six years imprisonment
The long process of trying to bring former lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Prof. Richard Akindele to justice for demanding sex from his student to upgrade her score has finally been concluded.
A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has sentenced the sex-for-marks lecturer to a jail term of six years for a four-count charge of alleged sexual harassment which he had initially pleaded not guilty.
The charge brought against him by the ICPC sought to prosecute Mr Akindele for using his position as a lecturer to demand sexual affair from one of his student, Monica Osagie in order to upgrade her grades from fail to pass.
When Mr Akindele realized that the noose was been tightened around his neck he rescinded from his ‘not guilty’ plea to a guilty plea which his counsel required in order to enter into a plea bargain with the court.
Presiding over the case, Justice Maurine Onyetenu was unwelcoming of the plea of counsel of the defendant, Mr. Francis Omotosho, who prayed for leniency on behalf of his client.
“The plea bargain is not absolute, the court still have discretion,” Justice Onyetenu said.
“This kind of issue is too rampant in our tertiary institutions. We send children to school, they come home telling us that lecturers want to sleep with them. We can not continue like this. Somebody has to be used as example,” she affirmed.
“It is time for the court to start upholding the right of the children, especially female students,” she said as she pronounced the judgement.
Mr. Akindele received 24 months for the first count and another 24 months for the second count brought against him. For the third count, he was handed one year and another one year for the fourth and final count.
The sentences will run concurrently.
