TRACKING___A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Richard Akindele, jailed for sexual harassment has been released from prison after serving a two-year term.
A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, in 2018 had sentenced Akindele to prison after he pleaded guilty to four counts filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The Commission had investigated s*xual harassment allegations levelled against the professor by a female student, Monica Osagie.
Justice Maureen Onyetenu, who had to stand down the case two times, before finally giving her judgement, rejected a plea bargain agreed by the parties involved and insisted that the professor must be punished as a warning to higher institution lecturers in the habit of molesting female students.
Justice Onyetenu sentenced Akindele to 24 months imprisonment for asking Osagie for a s*xual benefit and another 24 months jail term for soliciting s*xual benefit from the victim to pass her.
In an audio which went viral online, Akindele was heard demanding five rounds of s*x from Osagie to award her a pass mark in a course she failed.
Efforts to get official comment from the Nigerian Prisons Service on Friday proved abortive but a reliable source at the NPS confirmed Akindele’s release.
“He was released about two weeks ago having completed his jail term,” the source said.
