A-25-year-old man, Abodurin Apelogun has been jailed for life for defilement of his neighbour’s seven-year-old, daughter during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The man was convicted and sentenced on Tuesday by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja, Lagos.
Abodurin who is a graphic designer was sentenced by the trial judge after the prosecution had sufficiently proven the charge of defilement against him.
He was initially arraigned on 27 October, 2021 and pleaded not guilty to a-one-count defilement against a child.
The defendant was rearriagned on 29 May, 2025 following an amended information dated April 23, 2025.
The defendant committed the offence contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Oshodi held that there were overwhelming evidence against the convict by the prosecution witnesses.
The survivor testified during trial as the first prosecution witness.
Also, Oyedeji Alagbe, medical practitioner working at LASUTH presented a medical report that corroborated the survivors’ evidence that the convict committed the offence.
The Prosecution team led by State Counsel, Babajide Boye presented four witnesses and two exhibits in court to prove the charge against the convict during trial while three witnesses testified in defence of the defendant.
The prosecution held that the defendant, Abodurin Apelogun committed the offence on or about the 19th day of June, 2020 at 48A Oil Mill Street, Lagos Island had an unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
The survivor (names withheld) testified during the trial that the incident happened during the absence of her parents at their face-to-face house.
The survivor’s father also testified as second prosecution witness.
He told the court that he found out the crime when he was interrogating his children if anyone had touched them and that survivor said that Abodurin used to rape her.
The father immediately went to the convict’s apartment with his daughter to identify the culprit among the occupants and she pointed at the perpetrator.
The survivor’s father gave him some blows on his face and his brother intervened.
He reported the matter to Lion Building Police station on June 19, 2020 where a complaint was made and the case was later referred to the Gender Desk.
He also told the court that the family was coming to beg the girl’s parent for forgiveness so that case can be withdrawn.
Abodurin Apelogun: Jailed for life
Delivering verdict, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had proven and established the one-count charge of defilement against Abodurin beyond reasonable doubt.
According to him, “There was a circumstantial evidence and medical evidence from Mirabel Centre.
“The survivor ‘s evidence was consistent” and proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had sexual intercourse with her,” the court held.
The judge said to the convict, “You showed no remorse and have constantly maintained a complete denial of the allegation, your plea for mercy cannot outweigh the gravity of the offence because defilement causes life trauma in children.”
Subsequently, the court convicted the defendant and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The prosecution counsel O.O Ojedele who held brief for Boye prayed the court to register the convict’s name in the Sexual Offenders Register.
Justice Oshodi also ordered that the convict’s name be register in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
Justice Oshodi also remanded him to the Maximum correctional facility because he was previously held in the Medium correctional facility of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
