The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a man, Ugochukwu Onuoha, to life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s 5-year-old daughter.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt, the charge of defilement against Onuoha.
Oshodi said the prosecutrix (survivor) was a child at the time of the incident.
He said the prosecutrix’s mother’s evidence that Onuoha apologised and promised not to do it again was an admission which corroborated the prosecutrix’s evidence.
“There is abundant evidence that the defendant committed the crime. I believed the prosecutrix when she testified before me as she was resolute that it was the defendant that penetrated her vagina with his penis,” Oshodi said.
She maintained this during cross-examination and gave further details to embellish her evidence in chief. The evidence shows that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the victim, who, to his knowledge, was a child.”
The judge, thereafter, found Onuoha guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The court further held that the medical evidence showed short and long-term impacts on the victim as the sexual intercourse he had with the survivor could cause structural damage to the vagina, the uterus, and other surrounding organs.
“According to the medical evidence, by the age of the victim, the sexual intercourse you had with her could cause vagina bleeding and may lead to death. The psychology of the victim was affected and may require years of counselling,” the judge said.
“You offered no words of consolation for the victim and her family and I do not know at this time what the total ramifications will be for the survivor.
“The extent of damage you have done to the survivor for your sexual gratification is mind-boggling and you did not show any sign of remorse.”
The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment and also ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
The prosecutor, Mr Adedipupo Adewetan, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on June 20, 2021 on Achakpo St., Olodi Apapa, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015.
