Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced 52-year-old man Akin Isaac to 21 years imprisonment for defiling his daughter for 12 years.
Justice Taiwo jailed Isaac after he pleaded guilty to one count charge of rape brought against him by the state government.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Omowumi Bajulaye-Bishi had told the court that the convict started sleeping with his daughter (name withheld) when she was six years old. He continued with the act until he was caught in the strong arms of the law on the girl’s 18th birthday.
Bajulaye-Bishi had also told the court that the convict, who resides at 2b Akinlagbe Street Alapere, did defile his daughter from age six to age 18 by having unlawful sexual intercourse with his daughter.”
She further stated that the offence is contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law Cap C.17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The prosecution had called four witnesses to testify against the convict because he had initially pleaded not guilty.
However, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain agreement the convict signed with the state, Justice Taiwo said the 21 years proposed sentence by the ministry of justice was too small for the offense which carried life imprisonment.
The judge held, ”I knew this case very well, I could remember the survivor was crying when giving evidence before the court that she had an abortion and how the defendant beat her.’’
She, therefore, directed the registrar to put the convict in the witness box to go through the process of a plea bargain wherein he was asked whether he was forced or coerced by anybody whatsoever to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Isaac answered that he decided to change his plea. He then pleaded with the court to have mercy on him.
The court, thereafter, admitted the plea bargain agreement as the judgment of the court and then sentenced the convict to 21 years imprisonment.
