Nasarawa Varsity Lecturer Jailed Over Assault

A senior lecturer with the Federal University of Lafia, Dr Fred Ayokahi, who assaulted a 20 year-old student, Blessing Mathias, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Dr. Ayokahi was convicted by the Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Obi, Obi local government area of the state.
He has been standing trail for criminal conspiracy, house breaking, abduction, voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation and assault.

Recall that a video had surfaced on social media showing Ayokhai ripping off the singlet of Mathias with scissors in October 2022.
Mathias was also flogged and dropped off naked in the bush.

The police subsequently arrested Ayokhai and Emmanuella, his daughter, who allegedly orchestrated the attack on Mathias for snatching her lover.

The suspect was first arraigned in court, alongside three others before the State Chief Jude, Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu, where the case was assigned to Justice Solomon W. Ayenajeh of the High Court Obi.

Those arraigned with the varsity Don are Emmanuella Ayokahi, Bob-Praise Ayokahi and Saint-Dan Ayokahi, as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, who are all his children, while one of the accomplices, Vera Ogbonnaya is still at large.
After several processes filed, issues joined and witnesses taken on the case with exhibits, the Counsel to the 1st to 4th defendants, A. U. Idris Esq had approached the court of an offer for plea bargain, after his clients have pleaded guilty to the crime charged.

It was gathered that, both the parties involved in the case of Dr. Ayokahi and Blessing Mathias have consented to the plea bargain agreement, where charges against the 1st and the 4th defendants are amended.

The convict and the 2nd to 4th defendants were hitherto charged with two count charges of criminal conspiracy and physical assault with canes and sticks, contrary to sections 96 and 264 and punishable under section sections 97 and 265 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Northern Nigeria, 1963 respectively.

The presiding Judge, Justice S. W. Ayenajeh convicted the 1st defendant and sentenced him to jail for six months for criminal conspiracy and another six months for assault.

The judge however said that, the sentence will run concurrently in consideration of his plea.

Justice Ayenajeh said, the six months period, which Dr. Fred had been in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service will be reckon with.
He said consequent upon the plea bargain and taken into cognizance the ages of his children, the 2nd to 4th defendants were however let-off under a six months probation order for six months.

Justice Ayenajeh order that, within the six months period, they 2nd to 4th defendants will be keeping the premises of the Nasarawa State High Court of Justice clean.