A-52-years old Akin Isaac has been having regular sex with his daughter since she was just six years old and he continued until the daughter turned 18.
During this period he procured abortion for her voluntarily.
But now, the long arm of the law has caught up with him and he is to spend 21 years in prison, he got the lighter sentence because he finally pleaded guilty to the charge.
This is the judgement handed down by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos Special Offences Court on Thursday.
The judge slammed on Akin Isaac a-21-year prison sentence for defilement of his daughter, who is now 20 years old.
This is because he pleaded guilty to the one count charge brought against him by the State government.
According to the prosecution counsel, Mrs Omowunmi Bajulaye-Bishi, “Isaac who resides at No 2b Akinlagbe Street Alapere did defile his daughter from age six to age 18 by having unlawful sexual intercourse with his daughter.”
Defilement of a child is contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law Cap C.17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015, and carries a penalty of life imprisonment.
Delivering judgement on the plea bargain agreement the convict signed with the state, the judge said the 21 years proposed sentenced by the Ministry of Justice was too small to the offence which carried life imprisonment.
Recalling the chilling testimony of the survivor, Justice Taiwo said, “I know this case very well, I could remember the survivor was crying when giving evidence before the court that she had abortion and how defendant was beating her.
“The prosecution had called for witnesses to testified against the defendant. The defendant initially pleaded not guilty.”
Hence, the judge directed the registrar to put the defendant in the witness box to go through the process of plea bargain, during which he was asked whether he was forced or coerced by anybody whatsoever to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Isaac replied that he voluntarily change his plea and begged the court to have mercy on him.
The defendant applied to the court for a plea bargain in an application dated 21st of April, 2022, which was admitted by the court.
Afterwards, Bajulaye-Bishi reviewed the facts of the case. She said that between 2014 and 2020, the defendant was having unlawful sexual intercourse with his daughter which resulted into at least one pregnancy.
The prosecution explained, “The defendant also attempted to procure abortion for her and regularly administer drugs to her to prevent pregnancy.
“Trial commenced on February 7, 2022 in which the prosecution called four witnesses before the defendant approached the prosecution to change his plea.
“Having shown remorse for his action he pleads guilty to the offence of Indecent Treatment of a Child contrary to Section 135 of the Criminal Law Cap C.17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
“That the defendant agreed to plead to the offence of defilement with a lesser sentence of 21 years.”
The court admitted his plea of guilty and sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment.
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