By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin
A Magistrate court sitting at Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area in Edo state, has jailed Judith Ivie Okosun and Juliet Obehi Okosun who are both graduates of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU).
Chief Magistrate Maltina Iluobe in charge sheet No: MEK/18C/2012, committed Juliet Obehi Okosun to two years imprisonment for unlawful detention and indecent assault on the University don.
The court also convicted Judith Ivie Okosun for one year jail term for unlawful detention of the plaintiff in connection with sexual harassment scandal, which precipitated to the dismissal of Dr. Peter Otubu, lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of the Institution over seven years ago.
The first and second accused persons were convicted with N20, 000 and option of fine on count 4, which bothers on indecent assault, while her sister, Juliet Obehi Okosun (Second accused person) was found guilty on count 8, for unlawful detention of the University don.
The court recalled that Juliet Obehi Okosun (second accused person) had admitted in her evidence before the court that she had the key to the apartment where (first accused person), Judith Ivie Okosun, unlawfully assaulted Dr. Otubu who was held hostage and stripped naked at thier one room apartment in a private female hostel near the University on 17th July 2010.
In count 8, the court, ruled that the failure of Juliet Obehi Okosun to open the door of thier living room and release Dr. Otubu who was made to raise the sum of N100, 000. 00 (One Hundred Naira) cheque in favour of Judith Ivie Okosun for the inhuman treatment against Dr. Peter Otubu under the same circumstance.
The court specifically established that in the recorded video clips which was also posted in the internet by one Oziengbe, now at large, that the second accused person had told court that she was in possession of the key to their apartment where Dr. Peter Otubu was held, making her liable for conviction with an option of fine of N30, 000 for unlawful detention.
Chief Magistrate Maltina Iluobe, however, discharged and acquitted Judith Ivie Okosun (24) and Juliet Obehi Okosun (22) who were both undergraduate students at AAU at the time the charged to court on count 1, 5, and 6 which bothers on conspiracy and stealing and frivolous petition against Dr. Peter Otubu, following the failure or the prosecution to prove to the court.
It also discharged and acquitted the 3rd to 7th accused persons, Esther Ogbeide (21), Samson Ogbeide (32), Igbudu Samuel (42), Ojeabulu Eghosa Clement (37) and Aruya Ohis Williams (24) for lack of substantial evidence.
