Cleric, Cobbler Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Defiling Girl, 13

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a cleric, Yakubu Isiaka and a cobbler, Alex Michael, to life imprisonment and for defiling a 13-year old girl in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Presiding Judge,  Justice Rahman Oshodi, who sentenced the convicts, Michael and Isiaka and ordered them to serve their sentences at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos State.

While delivering the judgment, Justice Oshodi, stated that after carefully considering the evidence presented by the prosecution, the convicts were guilty of the crime of defilement beyond any reasonable doubt.

The judge noted that the convicts failed to provide any statements or evidence to challenge the accusations levelled against them.

“The only statement before the Court is the confession by Michael, corroborated by the Investigating Police Officer, who testified that the convict admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim on three occasions.”

“Furthermore, I believe that Michael had the opportunity to commit the crime as he was a neighbour of the victim,” Justice Oshodi said.

The judge noted that both defendants confessed to the Police at Owutu Police Division in Ikorodu that they had engaged in sexual acts with the underaged girl.

The prosecutor, Babajide Boye, had earlier informed the Court that the offenses were committed between October and November 2019 in Ikorodu, which violated the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).

The Court noted that Michael admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim three times, justifying his actions by claiming that the girl flirted with him and shared pornographic material involving the girl on his mobile phone.

On the other hand, Isiaka was found to have had sexual intercourse with the girl twice, offering her N500 on the first occasion and N200 on the second.

The Court found them guilty and sentenced the duo to life imprisonment for the two-count charge of defilement.

Justice Oshodi also directed that the names of the convicts be registered in the sex offenders register maintained by the Lagos State government before they were taken into the custody, where they will spend the rest of their lives.