Another Man, 54, Jailed For Life Over Rape Of Neighbour’s Girl, 10

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Barely 24 hours after one man, Gbenga Olusunkanmi, was jailed for life for defiling a 12-year old girl in a dastardly manner, another man has also been sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine by the same Court in Lagos State.

 P.M.EXPRESS reports that Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Thursday sentenced a 54-year old man, Bashir Olashekere, for defiling his neighbour’s 10-year old daughter and wiping her private part with a red cloth.

Justice Soladoya found Olashekere guilty of a charge of defiling his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The trial judge described Olashekere as a “randy neighbour” while being sentenced to life imprisonment for defilement of the victim.

“Children are special and should be nurtured with love and care and should not be molested by an irresponsible randy neighbour. The defendant therefore is to pay for his sexual indiscretions,” ruled the judge.

“The defendant should be shamed. Defilement is a heinous crime against the victim. Not only is the victim traumatised, she will live with it forever.”

“It is hoped that the naming and shaming of this perpetrator will help step down cases of defilement in this state of excellence.”

“The defendant acted irresponsibly with reckless abandon by defiling his neighbour’s daughter. Adult neighbours are expected to live by example by being moral. What manner of neighbour is this sick paedophile?

“For the above reasons, the defendant is hereby found guilty as charged as the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt, the charge proffered against him.”

Delivering the judgement Soladoye noted that during the cross-examination of the survivor’s evidence, she was consistent and unshaken.

The judge also commended the evidence of Dr. Oyedeji Alagbe, a medical doctor at a sexual assault referral centre, called Mirabel Centre, as very illuminating and unshaken during cross-examination.

The State Prosecutor, Mr. Olusola Soneye, said the convict committed the offence on 12th August, 2017, in Ketu, Lagos.

The prosecutor told the Court that Obashekere, who was known as “Baba Farouq” in the neighbourhood, lured the survivor into his apartment and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her as at the time he was 50-years-old.

He added that he committed the crime under the guise of sending her on errands, then he lures her into his apartment to defile her.

“According to the survivor, after he defiled her, he wiped her private part with a red cloth,” Soneye said.

Four witnesses; the survivor, a medical doctor, the Investigating Police Officer including the survivor’s mother, had testified for the prosecution while Obashekere testified in his own defence.

Bashir Olashekere has been sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine and his name is to be registered in the Sex Offenders Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.