The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Wednesday, convicted and sentenced a painter, Azeez Salau, to life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s nine-year-old daughter.
This was announced on the XSpace of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
Justice Abiola Soladoye handed down the sentence after finding Salau guilty of the offence of defilement charge preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Soladoye held that the convict was a sexual pervert who entered the room of his neighbour while she had gone to work at night and sexually assaulted the girl.
Justice Soladoye said the testimony of the survivor was clear, coherent and consistent even when she was cross-examined, as her evidence was corroborated by the medical report. She said that the prosecution had sufficiently proved the three ingredients of defilement against the convict.
The judge held that the survivor, in this case, gave vivid, thorough evidence which was corroborated by the medical report.
The court also held the evidence of Dr. Alagbe Oyedeji of Mirabel Medical Centre who said that the medical report showed multiple healed lacerations as there was blunt forceful penetration of the vagina.
Justice Soladoye also held that the testimony of the survivor’s mother who testified that she was a night worker and that the survivor and her brother were made to sleep alone in the house. “The survivor’s mother told the court that one of her neighbours, Mummy Darasimi, informed her of the incident.”
But Salau in his defence said he had an issue with the mother of the girl but his story did not add up as he tried to distance himself from the commission of the crime.
However, Justice Soladoye convicted him of the charge and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The judge said his name should be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
She said: “The convict is a neighbour to the victim and in this case, he ought not to have done what he did to the child. This should serve as a strong warning to the perpetrators of this act that the day of reckoning is near.
“Parents are once again advised that the need for mentorship and monitoring of their children is not negotiable. Salau is hereby found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.”
During the trial, the state prosecution counsel, Mr Olusola Soneye, who led Ms Abimbola Abolade, had called three witnesses while the convict testified as a sole witness.
The prosecutor told the court that the convict committed the offence sometime in January 2020 at Oshiboyede Street, Selewu, Igbogbo, Ikorodu Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
DSVA further stated on its handle: “The Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency reiterates the State’s Zero tolerance stance and insists that there is help for survivors even as we remain committed to ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.”
