Fred Ayokhai, a member of the teaching staff at the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), has been found guilty by the High Court of Nasarawa State of assaulting a female student, Blessing Mathias.
This was a result of a viral video that surfaced in October 2022, showing Ayokhai using scissors to rip off Mathias’ singlet and subsequently flogging her before leaving her naked in the bush. Ayokhai and his daughter, Emmanuella, who was said to have coordinated the attack, were apprehended by the police. Other children of Ayokhai were also joined as defendants in the case.
Though they had initially pleaded not guilty, Ayokhai’s counsel later approached the court with an offer for a plea bargain. The judge, Solomon Ayenajeh, eventually convicted Ayokhai of criminal conspiracy and assault, sentencing him to six months in jail for each charge.
The judge also ordered Ayokhai’s children to spend six months on probation and perform community service by keeping the premises of the Nasarawa State High Court clean during their sentence. The judge also ordered Bob-Praise, Ayokhai’s son, to shave his dreadlocks. Ayokhai expressed his gratitude to the judge and parties involved for the leniency accorded to him and stated that he had made efforts to compensate the victim as part of the plea bargain arrangement.
