A bricklayer, Azeez Oshoderu, alias Chisco has been sent to life imprisonment for defilement of a neighbour’s eight-year-old daughter (names withheld) in a toilet.
The convict was sentenced on Monday by a Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja.
Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced him after the prosecution had sufficiently proven the charge of defilement against him.
Oshodi held that there was overwhelming evidence against the convict from the prosecution witnesses.
The judge further noted that the prosecution proved the case of defilement as he held that the defendant’s narrative was inconsistent.
The court stated that it is entirely satisfied that the prosecution has proven its case, through the direct evidence of the survivor and circumstantial elements of defilement beyond reasonable doubt.
According to Justice Oshodi the evidence presented in court against the convict that the survivor was a child was overwhelming and that the incident occurred on 27 July, 2022 where the defendant did had unlawful sexual intercourse with the child.
The court also held that the defendant admitted that he interacted with the child at the compound where he claimed to have asked the child to bring water to him in the toilet.
Recall that earlier this month, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Domestic and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja, had sentenced one Mr Nasiru Usman to 12 years’ jail term over sexual assault violence on a four-year-old baby, Usman was convicted on a one-count charge of defilement which he had pleaded not guilty to on January 23 2024.
How Azeez Oshoderu got life imprisonment
However, the child narrated that she went to urinate at the bathroom where the convict thereafter covered her mouth, placed her on his lap and had a sexual act with her.
However, the convict denied that nothing happened when taken to the police station.
During his arraignment on September 29, 2023, he pleaded not guilty.
The court held that the convict was a squatter at 25 Ago-Hausa, Street, Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Local Government Area, Lagos where he interacted with the child, and confirmed that he was at a toilet facility where the survivor was also present.
The evidence of the survivor was corroborated by the medical report, the Investigating Police Officer and medical doctor’s evidence showed that the convict committed the offence.
The judge noted that a child has not attained age 18 and is incapable of consenting to sexual activity.
The court held that the child provided eye witness testimony.
“Her evidence was consistent throughout her examination-in-chief that the defendant removed her pant and put her on his lap.
“The defendant should have his name registered in the sexual offence register as maintained by Lagos State,” Justice Oshodi said.
The judge also said that the convict’s action had undoubtedly inflicted deep psychological wounds that might take a lifetime to heal.
The State Prosecution counsel Dare Dada presented three witnesses and tendered exhibits in court to prove the charge against the convict during the trial, while the defendant testified in his defence.
The defence counsel pleaded that the defendant is a first-time defendant, and as such, a life imprisonment would be way too weighty for a first timer.
“I believe this is a big lesson for the defendant.”
Dada, however, urged the court to sentence the defendant accordingly and not a life imprisonment, arguing that he exploited his position and the victim’s vulnerability to satisfy his unlawful sexual desires.
According to him, “The victim was eight years old. A child who should have been safe in her own home environment.
After the counsel’s submissions, the judge stated that the IPO had earlier iterated that it was not his first time, he thereafter pronounced him guilty of the offence of defilement and sentenced him to Life imprisonment.
