Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic V!olence Court on Monday, January 19, convicted and sentenced a man identified as Olumuyiwa Adjoto to double life imprisonment for def!ling his wife’s six-year-old niece.
The Lagos State Government had dragged the convict before the court on charges bothering on deflement1, sexual assault by penetration, and indecent treatment of a child. During the trial, the State Counsel, Bukola Okeowo, called four witnesses: the survivor, her mother, a medical officer, and an investigative police officer while the convict testified in his own defence as the sole defence witness.
The prosecutor, Bukola Okeowo, while testifying before the court, stated that Adjoto committed the offences on April 22, 2022, around 1:00pm, opposite Erubami House along Primary School Road, Mowo, Badagry, Lagos. She said he assaulted sexu@lly through the vagina and the anus after his wife left home for the market and left the girl in his care. She further stated that the offences committed contravened Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The judge found Adjoto guilty of def!lement and sexu@l ass@ult by penetration but discharged him on the third count of indecent treatment of a child.
In his judgement, the judge described the offences as grave, noting that the injuries inflicted on the child might never fully heal.
“The evidence before this court has established that you defiled and sexually assaulted a six-year-old child who was entrusted to your care. You penetrated her vagina and anus, causing her immense physical and psychological trauma,” Oshodi said.
The judge referenced the testimony of Olatunji, who explained the severe impact of the abuse on the child. According to the medical expert, the immediate effects include fear, difficulty trusting people, social withdrawal, possible urinary incontinence, and declining academic performance.
She added that the long-term psychological consequences could include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and difficulty maintaining relationships, including marital relationships.
The judge thereafter sentenced the convict to life imprisonment on each of the two counts and ordered that both sentences run concurrently. The judge also ordered that Adjoto’s name be entered into the S#x Offenders Register in line with Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexu@l V!olence Agency Law, 2021.
“Having been convicted of defilement and sexual assault by penetration, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment on counts one and two. These sentences reflect society’s condemnation of such heinous acts against children” Oshodi held
