Nigeria Court Hands Life Sentence to School Security Guard for Rape of Nurse
A Nigerian court has sentenced a school security guard to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of raping a nurse inside a school clinic in Lagos, in a ruling that underscores the country’s hardline legal stance on sexual violence.
The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, sitting in Ikeja, convicted Emmanuel Buchi, a security guard at Green Springs School in Awoyaya, Ibeju-Lekki, for the rape of a 37-year-old married nurse who was on night duty at the school clinic.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Rahman Oshodi ruled that prosecutors had proved the offences of rape and assault occasioning harm beyond reasonable doubt. He described the defendant as “a pathological liar” whose testimony was inconsistent and unreliable, adding that Buchi showed no remorse throughout the trial.
“The sentence of life imprisonment for rape is mandatory under the law and reflects society’s strong condemnation of this crime,” the judge said.
According to the court, the assault occurred on the night of November 27, 2021, when Buchi abandoned his duty post, entered the school clinic without authorisation, and attacked the nurse while she was alone on duty. Justice Oshodi noted that the defendant abused the trust placed in him as a security officer tasked with protecting lives and property.
The judge said evidence before the court showed that the victim was threatened and overpowered during the attack. Medical findings presented by the prosecution corroborated her account, revealing physical injuries consistent with assault. Two additional prosecution witnesses also supported the survivor’s testimony, which the court described as “clear, consistent, credible and authentic.”
Buchi’s defence — that the encounter was consensual and that the nurse was his girlfriend — was rejected by the court. Justice Oshodi noted that the claim contradicted the defendant’s earlier statement to police and his own admission that the victim had told him to stop during the incident.
“Beyond the physical injuries, the prosecutrix will carry the psychological scars of that violation,” the judge said, stressing the broader and lasting impact of sexual violence on survivors.
The court sentenced Buchi to life imprisonment for rape and an additional three years for assault occasioning harm, ordering that both sentences run concurrently. It also directed that his name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
The prosecution, led by Babajide Boye, called three witnesses and tendered multiple exhibits during the trial. The offences were charged under Sections 173 and 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The verdict adds to a growing number of high-profile convictions in Lagos under specialised sexual offences courts, reflecting increased judicial focus on accountability and justice for survivors of sexual abuse.
