For impregnating his own 15-year-old daughter, a 42-year-old man Ekpo Lawrence has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
The judgement was delivered by Justice Abiola Soladoye on Thursday at the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court in Ikeja and no option of fine was given.
The judge said the prosecution diligently proved the the ingredients of the charge of defilement that was proffered against Ekpo by the Lagos Government.
The trial judge found Lawrence guilty of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
According to Justice Soladoye, “The inglorious conduct of this defendant is dirty, scandalous and unpardonable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 and condemnable in all ramifications.
“The immoral behaviour of having sex with his own biological daughter is toxic, absolutely disgraceful and an abomination contrary to the law of nature. It is morally reprehensible as it is incest.
“Where is the self respect of this defendant? How absolutely bizarre! Having sex with his daughter obviously took away his ability to make rational decisions. He foolishly tampered with the purity and self esteem of his child.
“I pray for inner peace for the victim to relieve her of fear and hatred for her father who sexually molested her severally so that she can deal with her pains, trials and tribulations and go on to live a purpose driven life.
“A father should be a trusted person in the life of a child. He supposed to keep his child safe but betrayed her sexually, he ripped purity off her body and her soul.
“This is a taboo and he must no doubt face the music for his morbid, sordid sexual misconduct. For the above stated reasons, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of fine.
“He is to have his name registered in the Sex Offenders Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.”
Applauding the prosecution, the judge said that the evidence put forth by the prosecution has been consistent while that of the defendant has been inconsistent and manifestly unreliable.
She said that Lawrence’s denial of the allegations was a calculated attempt to mislead the court.
Meanwhile, the prosecution lead, Mrs. Bola Akinsete said Lawrence committed the offence between December 2018 and June 2019 in his home at Agege, Lagos.
She said that the convict was 39 years old when he committed the offence.
Her words, “He defiled his 15-year-old daughter by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.”
During the trial, four witnesses; the survivor, a medical doctor, a social worker and police officer presented evidence on the side of the prosecution while Lawrence testified in his own defence.
CASEFILE gathered that the survivor was 17 years old when she gave her evidence in court said that her father had on numerous occasions defiled her whenever her step-mother travels.
She told the court that the incest came to light when she confided in a social worker in her school about her father’s actions.
Dr. Maria Fadaka of the Mirabel Center (a Sexual Assault Referral Center) said that after examining the survivor, her findings had revealed evidence of vaginal penetration and early pregnancy.
Lawrence in his defence had denied having sexual intercourse with his daughter claiming he was at work when the defilements allegedly took place.
