Teacher Arraigned for Sexual Assault on Pupils

A nurse, Oluchi Nwoke-Okoi, has told an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court how an Arabic teacher, Farouk Adam, allegedly inserted his finger in the private parts of nine pupils, aged between seven and thirteen years.

Farouk faces a nine-count charge bordering on sexual assault.

Nwoke-Okoi, a registered nurse and midwife, while being led in evidence by the state prosecutor, Olufunke Adegoke, said she was a staff of the Women At Risk Foundation (WARIF) and had 15 years of experience in midwifery.

The witness told the court that she attended to nine survivors and conducted vagina examinations on seven of them after their mothers brought them to the WARIF centre on Feb. 20, 2019.

“The survivors and their mothers were brought to the centre by police officers. We took time to question each of the survivors and also conducted a vagina examination on them.

“Seven of the survivors said that the defendant, who is their Arabic teacher, on several occasions, inserted his fingers into their vaginas.

“The 8th survivor said the defendant only touched her breast while the 9th survivor told us that she was afraid to attend the Quranic class after her sister told her that the defendant inserted his fingers into her vagina.

“Vagina examination was carried out on them. Based on their histories and the vagina examination, the result shows the absence of hymen. The conclusion is suggestive of sexual assault of a minor,” she said.

The witness told the court that the youngest of the survivor was seven years while the oldest was 13 years.

In cross-examination by defence counsel, A.O. Okonkwo, Nwoke-Okoi said she was certified by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), adding that the vagina examination she carried out on the survivors was not outside her practice.

The prosecuting counsel informed the court that the witness was the last prosecution witness in the case and prayed the court to order the defendant to open his defense.

The alleged offence contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, (2015).

Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case until Oct. 5 for the defendant to open his defense.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule