A Bayelsa State High Court has convicted Mr. Prudent Oguruguru, the Senior Special Assistant on General Duties to Governor Duoye Diri, for assaulting a man in February 2024.
Oguruguru was arrested on February 20 for allegedly attacking one Ubong Effiong Ubek in the Agudama-Epie area of Yenagoa Local Government.
Reports indicate that Ubek fell unconscious following the assault.
Following the arrest, Oguruguru was arraigned before Justice I.A. Orukari on charges of conspiracy, attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, serious assault, and malicious damage.
Although Oguruguru pleaded not guilty to all charges, the prosecution presented six witnesses and submitted seven exhibits to support the case.
On Tuesday, Justice Orukari ruled that the prosecution had proven the assault charge beyond reasonable doubt, convicting Oguruguru.
However, the court dismissed the attempted murder charges, stating that there was insufficient evidence to support them.
In the sentencing phase, Oguruguru’s defense counsel, Abadiofoni, urged the court to show mercy, emphasizing that the defendant was a first-time offender.
However, the prosecution’s lawyer, D.J. Olubowale, objected, citing a Supreme Court ruling that allocutus, a plea for mercy, must come directly from the defendant.
Oguruguru, in his allocutus, pleaded with the court to consider his family situation, highlighting that he was the sole provider for his young family and elderly mother.
Justice Orukari sentenced Oguruguru to three years in prison for the assault charge, with the option of a N250,000 fine.
The sentence for the other assault charge will also run concurrently, with the same fine option.
The judge noted that Oguruguru’s remorse and status as a first-time offender were factors in his relatively lenient sentencing.
