Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a 55-year-old man, Emmanuel Adedigba, to 14 years imprisonment for attempting to Sexually Assault his neighbour’s 14-year-old daughter.
Justice Oshodi jailed Adedigba for the offence after he entered into a plea bargain arrangement with the prosecution.
The Lagos State government had earlier arraigned the convict on the charge of defilement, which he pleaded not guilty to.
The trial commenced with the prosecution team led by Israel Solarin calling two witnesses to prove their case.
But at the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Solarin informed the court that the defendant had agreed to a plea bargain.
He disclosed that the charge had been amended to attempting to commit sexual assault by penetration, which is contrary to section 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The prosecutor had also informed the judge that the offence was committed on or about May 11, 2021, in the Isheri Osun area of Lagos State.
The defence counsel, Olajide Fasule, confirmed the development, stating that his client understood the implications of the plea bargain agreement.
The convict also confirmed his signature on the agreement. He stated that he understood the consequences of the plea bargain he signed.
He also confirmed that he was not coerced to sign the plea bargain agreement.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi said he was satisfied with the evidence of the prosecution establishing the offence of attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration.
The judge, while putting the plea bargain agreement into consideration, held, “I sentence the defendant to 14 years imprisonment from the date of his remand, June 15, 2021.”
