A man identified as Ugochukwu Onuoha, has been sentenced to Life Imprisonment by the Lagos State Sexual Offences & Domestic Violence Court for defiling his neighbour’s five-year-old daughter.
DSVA noted that his name will be registered in the Sexual Offenders Register as maintained by the state
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt, the charge of defilement against Onuoha.
Oshodi explained that the prosecutrix (survivor) was a child at the time of the incident. He said the prosecutrix’s mother’s evidence that Onuoha apologised and promised not to do it again was an admission which corroborated the prosecutrix’s evidence.
“There is abundant evidence that the defendant committed the crime. “She maintained this during cross-examination and gave further details to embellish her evidence in chief. “The evidence shows that the defendant had defiled the survivor, who, to his knowledge, was a child,” he said
The court further held that the medical evidence showed short and long-term impacts on the survivor like structural damage to the vagina, the uterus, and other surrounding organs.
Oshodi said, “According to the medical evidence, “The psychology of the victim was affected and may require years of counselling.
“You offered no words of consolation for the survivor and her family and I do not know at this time what the total ramifications will be for the survivor.
“The extent of damage you have done to the survivor for your sexual gratification is mind-boggling and you did not show any sign of remorse.”
The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment and also ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
The prosecutor, Mr Adedipupo Adewetan, had informed the court that the convict committed the offence on June 20, 2021 on Achakpo St., Olodi Apapa, Lagos.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015.
The DSVA affirmed the State’s Zero tolerance stance while maintaining that there is help for survivors even as they remain committed to ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
