Prof. David Ogbonna, a lecturer at Rivers State University who went on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting Grace Ndamatin, a 21-year-old female student, has on Monday been discharged and acquitted by a magistrate court in Port Harcourt.
Recall that on June 28, 2022, Professor Ogbonna, a lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, was charged by the police after Miss Ndamatin accused him of sexually assaulting her in his office.
“I’ll admit that I’m not at all shocked that the judgment of this court came about in the way, the manner, and the direction that it did”, Okah said. “Since the very beginning, we were aware that the prosecution would not be successful in proving its case in the absence of any proof. The accused would eventually be released and found not guilty. In fact, the court took that action”.
Okah added that the university administration would be handed a copy of the court decision in order to facilitate Prof. Ogbonna’s reinstatement after his suspension.
“At first, we had favored having this case handled in open court so that Nigerians could attend, hear, and observe the evidence the prosecution would provide. Not a single one, yet you just heard the judge expel the professor and clear him.
In the meantime, G.U. Amanna, the prosecuting attorney, declined to comment on the court decision to reporters.