Lagos: 26-year-old carpenter sentenced to life imprisonment for raping neighbour''s 12-year-old daughter

Within Nigeria Apr 17, 2024

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One Tayo Akinboyewa, a carpenter, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his neighbours 12-year-old primary school pupil.

26-year-old Akinboyewa was convicted and sentenced by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday.

The judge said that the medical report tendered as evidence substantiated the prosecutrix (victim)s testimony that Akinboyewa had unlawful sexual intercourse with her and that the prosecution had proved the charge of defilement against convict.

According to him, there was sufficient evidence that the convict (Akinboyewa) had sexual intercourse with the victim, who, to his knowledge, was a child and the victim gave a direct eyewitness account.

He further said that the convict confessed in exhibit G (Statement made at the police station), that he had sexual intercourse with the victim twice, which the medical report and Akinboyewas confessional statement corroborated the victims.

The judge held that the evidence and testimony of the victims mother and the Investigative Police Officer linked Akinboyewa to the crime.

However, Oshodi rejected the evidence of the convict and used his confessional statement.

He said: The prosecutrix, in her evidence, said that the convict, who both stayed on the same street in Oshodi, came to her house to borrow a fetcher to draw water in her house and in the process, used the rope of the fetcher to draw her closer and forcefully had sex with her in the backyard.

She narrated that the first occasion was in December 2020 while the second time when he came to her mothers shop near the canal and had sex with her was January 2021.

Outside Akinboyews confessional statement, I have looked for other credible evidence that the convict had sex with her.

The judge further said the convict used to fetch water from the prosecutrixs house, and used to borrow fetcher as well as visit her mothers shop near the canal.

He said the convicts confessional statement satisfied all the legal requirements of a confessional statement, as it was a direct, positive and unequivocal narration of the events that took place straight from the horses mouth.

Oshodi said he accepted the convicts confession that he had sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix twice, thus, it would not be in societys interest to allow a man who had confessed to his crime to walk out of the court as a free man simply because he has had a change of mind.

According to him, the trial would be a mockery.

I am satisfied that the prosecution has established defilement beyond reasonable doubt and I resolve the issue for determination in favour of the prosecution and against the defendant.

Therefore, considering all the evidence presented in the case, I hereby find Akinboyewa guilty and convict him under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Your actions were a gross violation of the victims innocence, dignity and bodily integrity.

He ruled that the convict took advantage of your status as a neighbour and the victims young age to sexually abuse her for your gratification, with no regard for the trauma and harm inflicted upon her.

The judge underscore the need to protect and nurture children and not exploit them in such a vile manner.

He said he had considered the gravity of his offence, the victims age, the breach of trust and the physical and psychological impact on the victim.

I have also considered that you initially confessed to your crimes, though you initially pleaded not guilty, necessitating a full trial, which lasted about two years.

Even though your counsel asked for mercy, you showed no remorse and offered no words of consolation for the victim and her family.

The law prescribes a severe punishment for the defilement of a child to reflect societys hatred for such conduct and to protect vulnerable children, Oshodi said.

The judge said he saw no reason to depart from the statutory requirement of life imprisonment.

According to him: The depravity of your acts warrants a lengthy prison sentence both to punish you and to send a strong deterrent message that sexual abuse of children will not be tolerated.

Therefore, I sentence you to life imprisonment. You will be registered as a sex offender and while in incarceration, I urge you to reflect deeply on your actions and strive for redemption.

The victim and her family will have to live with the impact of your crimes.

I hope this sentence provides them some justice and closure, knowing the perpetrator is being held accountable.

During the trial, the state counsel, led by Mr Babajide Boye, called three witnesses while the convict testified as a sole witness.

The prosecution said that the convict committed the offence sometime in May 2021, on Titilayo Street, Oshodi, Lagos State

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