Lagos court sentences man to life imprisonment for sexu@lly ass@ulting his wife’s six-year-old niece

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexu@l Offences and Domestic V!olence Court on Monday, January 19, convicted and sentenced a man identified as Olumuyiwa Adjoto to double life imprisonment for def!ling his wife’s six-year-old niece.

The Lagos State Government had dragged the convict before the court on charges bothering on deflement1, sexu@l ass@ult by penetration, and indecent treatment of a child. During the trial, the State Counsel, Bukola Okeowo, called four witnesses: the survivor, her mother, a medical officer, and an investigative police officer while the convict testified in his own defence as the sole defence witness.

The prosecutor, Bukola Okeowo, while testifying before the court, stated that Adjoto committed the offences on April 22, 2022, around 1:00pm, opposite Erubami House along Primary School Road, Mowo, Badagry, Lagos. She said he assaulted sexu@lly through the vagina and the anus after his wife left home for the market and left the girl in his care. She further stated that the offences committed contravened Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The judge found Adjoto guilty of def!lement and sexu@l ass@ult by penetration but discharged him on the third count of indecent treatment of a child.

In his judgement, the judge described the offences as grave, noting that the injuries inflicted on the child might never fully heal.

“The evidence before this court has established that you defiled and sexually assaulted a six-year-old child who was entrusted to your care. You penetrated her vagina and anus, causing her immense physical and psychological trauma,” Oshodi said.

The judge referenced the testimony of Olatunji, who explained the severe impact of the abuse on the child. According to the medical expert, the immediate effects include fear, difficulty trusting people, social withdrawal, possible urinary incontinence, and declining academic performance.