Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court in Lagos State sentenced Islamic teacher Adam Farouk to life imprisonment on Tuesday for defiling eight pupils in his class. The offenses occurred between November 2018 and February 2019 on Balogun Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, involving pupils aged between six and eleven. Farouk faced eight counts of sexual assault brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
In her judgment, Justice Soladoye affirmed that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. She described Farouk as morally corrupt and an embarrassment to the Islamic faith. The judge noted that the survivors’ testimonies were consistent and credible, indicating that they were truthful. Their demeanor during the trial further reinforced the authenticity of their accounts, as they identified Farouk as the teacher who had assaulted them by penetrating their private parts with his index fingers.
The evidence presented by the tenth prosecution witness, Mrs. Oluchi Nwoke-Okoi, a midwife from the Women at Risk International Foundation, revealed that the pupils had sustained vaginal injuries. Justice Soladoye highlighted that the defendant instructed the pupils to turn their backs while he assaulted them one by one. She criticized Farouk for lying during the trial, stating that the court did not fall for his deceit. The judge remarked, “The demeanor of the defendant is nothing to write home about; his stony face appears mischievous; he is extremely unkind and ruthless, fingering his students with his index fingers.”
Justice Soladoye condemned Farouk’s actions, emphasizing that he had taken undue advantage of vulnerable students and had failed in his duty to teach them morals, discipline, and values. She stressed the importance of cherishing the dignity and safety of students, asserting that individuals like Farouk must be held accountable for their sexual indiscretions. The judge called on the Lagos State Government to enhance monitoring of educational institutions and urged Muslim communities to conduct unannounced visits to Islamic schools to gather feedback from students and parents regarding the conduct of teachers.
“The need for this can never be overemphasized in view of the rampant scenes of this heinous crime,” she stated. Justice Soladoye commended the courage of the survivors for speaking out against their abuser without fear of intimidation, encouraging other abused children to come forward so that their assailants can be shamed and punished. She pointed out that a teacher should serve as a role model, imparting knowledge and morals, but Farouk had failed in this regard.
After considering the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and the sole defense witness, Justice Soladoye concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She convicted Farouk on all charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment for each of the eight counts, with the sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, the judge ordered that Farouk’s name be added to the Sexual Offenders Register of Lagos State. During the trial, the prosecution called ten witnesses, while the defendant testified as the sole defense witness.
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