ISMAHEEL AKINADE FROM WATERFORD AND KILDARE DEPORTED AFTER SEXUAL OFFENCES

In a significant development, Ismaheel Akinade, the professional footballer associated with Waterford FC, has been deported back to Nigeria following his legal case in Ireland. The case, which involved serious criminal allegations, had a complex history, including a controversial decision by the Irish judiciary to grant him asylum despite his conviction.

Initially, Akinade was facing deportation after being convicted of sexual offences committed in Ireland. However, Justice Barton intervened and granted him asylum, citing his potential as a promising talent for Irish football and emphasizing his future prospects within the sport. This decision sparked considerable debate and controversy, especially among the Irish and Nigerian communities in Waterford, who reportedly had little knowledge of the case during its proceedings.

Further details emerged from court records and investigations, revealing that the case had a lengthy and troubling history. The offences in question took place in 2010, involving multiple young men from Leixlip, including Akinade, who was then only 20 years old. The victims, notably a 14-year-old girl, endured a series of sexual assaults that spanned several locations and dates.

In October 2014, three young men from Kildare—Edgar Ojo, Olajafar Adetoro, and Ismaheel Akinade—were sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years, after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of the girl. The sentencing was marked by an apology from Judge Mary Ellen Ring, who expressed regret over the four-year delay in bringing the case to court. She criticized the lengthy process, stating, “These matters should not take four years to get through the prosecution process. All parties should endeavour to deal with the case.”

Ojo, of Lough Na Mona Park, admitted to multiple offences, including sexual assault and attempted defilement at his home and in a forest clearing on March 25, 2010. Adetoro, of Easton Close, also pleaded guilty to defiling the girl at various locations in Leixlip on February 27 and March 25, 2010. Akinade, residing at Rinawade Vale, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and attempted defilement at Ojo’s residence on March 15, 2010, and again on March 25, 2010.

Judge Ring emphasized the impact of the delay on the victim, stating, “It is not acceptable that the injured party has had it hanging over her for four long years.” She acknowledged that the delay had caused additional distress to the victim and had also affected the lives of the accused men, who now face the stigma of a sexual offence conviction. The court noted that such convictions could hinder their future employment prospects, serving as a form of punishment in itself.

During the sentencing hearing in July, evidence was presented that the offences occurred in the presence of others, with some of the assaults involving two of the offenders taking turns to rape the girl in a forest clearing. The court was told that all three defendants were only 16 years old at the time of the offences. The victim, in her Victim Impact Statement, described the profound and lasting effects of the abuse. She recounted how she was called derogatory names such as “slut” and “whore” after her identity was publicly revealed by friends of the offenders. She revealed that she continues to take anti-depressants and has experienced suicidal thoughts for four years following the assaults. Her social media presence has also subjected her to ongoing harassment and discussion.

The victim further explained that her family relationships have suffered due to societal attitudes towards pre-marital sex, and despite her feelings of isolation and depression, she expressed a desire not to evoke sympathy from others. Garda Paul Carney provided additional details, stating that one of the men had engaged in sexual activity with the girl three times in a friend’s sitting room while others were present. On March 25, 2010, the girl told Gardaí that two of the accused had taken turns to pin her down and force sex upon her. Following her statement, the men were arrested, and DNA evidence confirmed the involvement of Adetoro and Ojo through semen found on her clothing and in condoms recovered from the forest.

Garda Carney also noted that the girl had been in pain during some of the assaults but felt compelled to endure the abuse, believing she had no choice. She recounted how, during the incident in the forest, one of the offenders remarked, “You look like you’re going to cry,” to which she responded by slapping him and asking, “Can you blame me?” The court acknowledged the cooperation of the accused during the investigation.

Following the legal proceedings, Akinade was deported back to Nigeria, completing a chapter that had been marked by controversy, legal delays, and profound personal trauma for the victim. The case remains a stark reminder of the complexities involved in balancing justice, rehabilitation, and immigration policies in Ireland.