Court Jails Artisan For Life For Defiling Neighbour’s 12-year-old Daughter

Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has convicted and sentenced an artisan, Sunday George, to life imprisonment for sexually defiling his neighbour’s 12-year-old daughter.

Justice Abiola Soladoye sent George to jail for the rest of his life after she found him guilty of the alleged offence brought against him by the state government.

The judge held that the state had sufficiently proven the charge of defilement against the convict beyond all reasonable doubt.

The state prosecutor, Olusola Soneye, who had called two witnesses to prove the case, had told the judge that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015) and was punishable with life imprisonment.

The judge, in her judgment, described the convict as an irresponsible adult and a pathological liar whose testimony was an afterthought as it lacked credibility.

Justice Soladoye also held that the court was satisfied with the survivor’s testimony because it was unambiguous.

The judge stated that the story, as narrated by the survivor, was very chilling, compelling, convincing and truthful. The defendant defiled her by having sex in the bathroom and threatened her not to tell anyone.

She held, “he had sex with her on several occasions in the bathroom, and anytime she goes to watch a movie on the defendant’s phone in his room.

“Identifications in criminal cases are very pertinent. The survivor, in this case, identified the man in the dock as their neighbour who defiled her severally in the bathroom and his room.

“The evidence of the IPO corroborated her testimony, Inspector Medinat Ganiyu, who investigated this case and testified that the survivor and her father came to the station to complain. Upon arrest, the defendant wrote a statement.’’

 “The defendant is an irresponsible adult and a shameless paedophile whose denial of having any sexual relations with the survivor is an afterthought.

“Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the defendant is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge stated.

She also ordered that the name of the convict should be entered into the Sexual Offenders Register maintained by the Lagos State government.