Man Bags Life Sentence For Defiling Neighbour’s Daughter, 5

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A man, Ugochukwu Onuoha, will be spending the rest of his life in prison custody for defiling his neighbour’s 5-year old daughter in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Lagos State Sexual Offences & Domestic Violence Court sentenced Onuoha after he was found guilty for defilement under the Criminal Laws of the State.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt, the charge of defilement against Onuoha and so convicted him and ordered that his name be registered in the Sexual Offenders Register as maintained by Lagos State.

Justice Oshodi stated that the victim was a child at the time of the incident. He said the victim’s mother’s evidence that Onuoha apologised and promised not to do it again was an admission, which corroborated the victim’s evidence.

“There is abundant evidence that the defendant committed the crime. She maintained this during cross-examination and gave further details to embellish her evidence in chief. The evidence shows that the defendant had defiled the survivor, who, to his knowledge, was a child.”

The Court further held that the medical evidence showed short and long-term impacts on the survivor like structural damage to the vagina, the uterus, and other surrounding organs.

Oshodi said: “According to the medical evidence, “The psychology of the victim was affected and may require years of counselling.“You offered no words of consolation for the survivor 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 Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015.

The Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency reiterates the State’s zero tolerance stance and insists that there is help for survivors even as they remain committed to ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.

The agency urged that on cases of Domestic or Sexual Violence it should be contacted by calling their Toll Free Line – 08000 333 333.