Man bags life imprisonment for sexually assaulting neighbour’s daughter

The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Wednesday, May 3, sentenced one Idowu Adegoke to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his neighbour’s seven-year-old daughter.

The presiding judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, held that the prosecution sufficiently proved the charge of sexual assault against the convict.

Justice Soladoye said the evidence of the convict was self-serving and only made to distance himself from the allegations against him.

The judge further described the convict as a pathological liar, saying his documentary testimony was at variance with his oral testimony.

She said the evidence of the prosecution witness (victim) corroborated the evidence of another witness (medical doctor).

Justice Soladoye said: “The defendant was dishonest and deceitful by saying he did not have any contact with the survivor on the day in question or any other day at all.

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“In the same breath, stated that he saw the victim attempting to use the bathroom with fresh concrete work done and spoke to her not to use the bathroom.

“The defendant also told the court that he informed the survivor’s mother that he was only trying to tell the victim about the concrete work done on the bathroom floor.

“This is an attempt to lie his way out of the case.

“The court finds that the evidence of the respective witnesses was truthful, credible, cogent, and believable.

“The conduct of the defendant is unbecoming of a neighbour and condemnable.

“The court having found the defendant guilty as charged, he is consequently convicted and sentenced to a term of life imprisonment.

“His name is also to be entered in the Sexual Offenders Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government,” the judge declared.

The state prosecution team, comprising Olusola Soneye, Olufunke Adegoke, and Abimbola Abolade, presented four witnesses to testify while the convict testified as a sole witness.

No fewer than five exhibits were also tendered during the trial.

The prosecution disclosed that Adegoke committed the offence on November 28, 2018, at Ayantaga Street in the Mushin area of Lagos.

The prosecution said the convict sexually assaulted the minor by penetrating her vagina with his fingers.

The offence, the prosecution said, contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The Star