Akindele, OAU ‘Sex-For-Grade’ Lecturer, Loses Appeal Against Conviction

A court of appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo state, has dismissed
the appeal of Richard Akindele, sacked lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Ile-Ife, challenging his conviction for demanding
sexual gratification from Monica Osagie, a student.

In 2018, Maureen Onyetenu, judge of a federal high court in
Osogbo, Osun state, sentenced Akindele to prison after he pleaded
guilty to a four-count charge filed against him by the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

She sentenced Akindele to 24 months’ jail-term for asking Monica
for sexual benefits and handed him another 24 months’ jail-term for
soliciting from the victim sexual benefits to award her marks.

The judge also sentenced Akindele to 12 months’ jail-term for
deleting parts of the WhatsApp conversation between him and Osagie
to conceal evidence against him and sentenced him to another 12
months’ jail-term for falsification of age. She had held that the
six-year jail term would run concurrently.

In the appeal filed by the dismissed lecturer, Akindele
challenged his conviction on the grounds that the federal high
court lacked the jurisdiction to try him.

His lawyer, Ijatuyi, argued that the case ought to have been
heard at the national industrial court since the alleged offences
bordered on sexual harassment in the workplace.

However, in its judgment on Friday, the appellate court agreed
with E.A. Shogunle, counsel for the respondent, that the
jurisdiction of the national industrial court in criminal matters
is not exclusive.

Consequently, the court affirmed Akindele’s conviction.

Akindele completed his jail term and was released in April
2020.

A court of appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo state, has dismissed
the appeal of Richard Akindele, sacked lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Ile-Ife, challenging his conviction for demanding
sexual gratification from Monica Osagie, a student.

In 2018, Maureen Onyetenu, judge of a federal high court in
Osogbo, Osun state, sentenced Akindele to prison after he pleaded
guilty to a four-count charge filed against him by the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

She sentenced Akindele to 24 months’ jail-term for asking Monica
for sexual benefits and handed him another 24 months’ jail-term for
soliciting from the victim sexual benefits to award her marks.

The judge also sentenced Akindele to 12 months’ jail-term for
deleting parts of the WhatsApp conversation between him and Osagie
to conceal evidence against him and sentenced him to another 12
months’ jail-term for falsification of age. She had held that the
six-year jail term would run concurrently.

In the appeal filed by the dismissed lecturer, Akindele
challenged his conviction on the grounds that the federal high
court lacked the jurisdiction to try him.

His lawyer, Ijatuyi, argued that the case ought to have been
heard at the national industrial court since the alleged offences
bordered on sexual harassment in the workplace.

However, in its judgment on Friday, the appellate court agreed
with E.A. Shogunle, counsel for the respondent, that the
jurisdiction of the national industrial court in criminal matters
is not exclusive.

Consequently, the court affirmed Akindele’s conviction.

Akindele completed his jail term and was released in April
2020.