School proprietor sentenced to life imprisonment for defilement of pupil

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a school proprietor, Benson Arinze, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old pupil.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant committed sexual assault by penetration.

The court said the evidence presented by the survivor and her father was credible, consistent and strongly corroborated by other prosecution witnesses.

The judge further noted that the defence testimonies were not convincing, describing them as self-serving and unreliable.

According to the court, the prosecution successfully established the offence under Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, leading to the conviction and sentencing.

Arinze was accordingly sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to have his name entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

The convict broke down in tears as the sentence was delivered.

During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses while the defence presented three witnesses before judgment was delivered.

The defendant was initially charged alongside a teacher, Victor Ezenwata, who faced multiple charges including sexual assault and indecent treatment of the minor.

Ezenwata opted for a plea bargain and was sentenced earlier to 18 years imprisonment, while Arinze chose to contest the charge through full trial.

The case underscores continued judicial efforts in Lagos State to enforce strict penalties against sexual offences involving minors.