Justice

Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta

A magistrate court presided over by Judge B.O Ilo in Odeda local government area of Ogun state has dismissed a sexual harassment case against a Director of a well known private school in Abeokuta the state capital, Rev Isaac Newton.

Delivering his judgement after about a year of hearing the case, Ilo said he found no evidence against the accused person adding that,the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) stated that the case was borne out of “power tussle” within the management of the Home.

The Magistrate further said that, the DPP found out that the account of the two principal witnesses in the case in respect of the allegations, were contradictory to their complain, hence he struck out the case.

Meanwhile, a complainant under the umbrella of the Concerned Past Students of Stephen Children Home (COPASSTECH) had earlier accused Rev Newton of sexually harassment of 20 female students of the school and however called for the prosecution of the accused person.

The proprietor, was equally accused of taking the virginity of one of the students.

Upon complaint, the police however dragged Rev. Isaac to court pressing a case of sexual harassment against him having ASP Austin Ozimini as the police prosecutor.

While speaking to journalists in Abeokuta, the defendant’s counsel, Mr Samuel Nwaji, expressed his satisfaction with the judgement adding that further steps would be decided upon by his client.

He said: “We are pleased; although from the beginning, I knew there is nothing in the matter and I have been following the struggle for a while.

“It is unfortunate that our attitude in this part of the world is that if we can not get it, we would seek to destroy it and as a result they recruited children in the home to concoct stories even when those that are behind the case have been in the system for long.

“But as a lawyer I have to then look into what was brought before the court and you will want to ascertain if there is any substance in their claims.

“But today we thank God, I am not the one that was victimised and as a result, the next line of action will be decided by my client. Although I know Reverend was the one who brought up this children since when they were toddlers but, it is wrong to advise a client against his/her conscience.”

Reacting to the judgement, Reverend Newton appreciated God, his adversaries among others, adding that he was sure that a righteous man will not die in the place of the wicked.

His words, “I just thank God , I owe all of it to God and everyone especially my wife. I have had to ask God why, but I haven’t gotten any response for it but the most important thing is that I have been vindicated today and I thank God almighty.

“You can imagine, I live like a slave among the children

But they insulted me but I give it all to the lord.

“Although, I am sure that the righteous will not die in place of the wicked ”