Sexual assault: Factory worker bags life imprisonment

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a factory worker, Kazeem Adedayo, to life imprisonment for inserting his fingers into the private part of his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter.

Justice Abiola Soladoye, in her judgement, held that prosecution successfully proved the charge of sexual assault by penetration against Adedayo.

Justice Soladoye said evidence of the survivor corroborated a medical report that the survivor suffered repeated penetration.

She said: “Evidence of the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) was also crucial in this case.

“The testimony of the survivor was truthful as she identified the defendant as ‘Baba Jamal’ and also gave a vivid account of how he inserted his fingers into her vagina while fetching water in the compound.

“A medical examination which was carried out by  Dr Oyedeji Alagbe also revealed reddened and bruised vagina as the hymen was almost  obliterated.

“The defendant was unable to explain why he was the only one pointed at, in a house full of tenants, as the perpetrator of the heinous crime.

“Evidence of the second defence witness, the defendant’s sister, is unreliable as she does not live with his brother and had no  idea when the alleged fingering occurred.”

The presiding judge held that prosecution proved the ingredients of the case against the defendant, saying the survivor could not have consented to any sexual act with the defendant.

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She added that two exhibits  – A and B  –  tendered before the court, which were statements of the defendant and  the survivor, were unambiguous.

“This honourable court is convinced that the overwhelming evidence is compelling as the survivor identified the defendant in the dock.

“I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged, and he is hereby  sentenced to life imprisonment,” Justice Soladoye said.

The prosecution team led by Olusola Shoneye, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, presented three witnesses during the trial while defence presented two.

Prosecution submitted that the convict committed the offence on January 12, 2018, at about 2.00 p.m. on Markati Lane, Oshodi, Lagos State.

Sexual assault by penetration contravenes Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Star