Pastor Ndukwe Ogbu, 45, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping his 14-year-old daughter. The verdict was delivered on Monday, June 30, 2025, by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Lagos State High Court.
Details of the Sentencing
Justice Abike-Fadipe found Ogbu guilty on all three counts of defilement and sexual assault brought against him by the Lagos State Government. The judge handed down sentences of three years on count one and 25 years each on counts two and three. These sentences will run concurrently, effective from December 2019, when Ogbu was first remanded in custody.
The judge emphasized that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, stating that the evidence presented was “undeniable.” Justice Abike-Fadipe also noted Ogbu’s lack of remorse, highlighting that his plea for a lighter sentence, citing his other children, did not sway the court.
The Survivor’s Testimony
The trial heard compelling testimony from the survivor, who identified Ogbu as her father. She recounted how the abuse began when she was 14, detailing repeated sexual assaults and threats that kept her silent. The prosecution revealed that she eventually confided in her school teacher, who then reported the case to a social worker, leading to the pastor’s arrest.
Trial Proceedings
Pastor Ogbu was arraigned in February 2021, with the trial commencing on October 18, 2021. The prosecution presented three witnesses and tendered various exhibits, while Ogbu testified as the sole defense witness. He denied the allegations, claiming he was not at home as stated by his daughter, despite living in the same apartment where she had her own room. Ogbu also mentioned that he lost his wife when his children were young and that his other children resided with their maternal grandmother in the village.
