Man bags 21-year jail term over attempted sexual assault of 10-year-old girl

An Ikeja domestic violence and sexual offences court, on Wednesday, sentenced one Chinaza Abazienu to 21 years imprisonment for indecent child treatment and attempting to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl.

The offence, committed on August 3, 2020, in Surulere area of Lagos, is said to contravene the provisions of sections 135 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

According to NAN, Abiola Soladoye, the judge, sentenced Abazienu to 14 years imprisonment for attempted sexual assault by penetration, and seven years imprisonment for indecent treatment of a child.

Meanwhile, another man identified as Isiaka Adeoye was, on Wednesday, sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ikeja domestic violence and sexual offences court for defiling a 17-year-old girl.

Isiaka was said to have committed the offence on January 22, 2020, in Graceland Estate, Idimu, Lagos.

Soladoye, the presiding judge, found the convict guilty following the presentations of three witnesses by Abimbola Abolade, a member of the prosecution team.

The judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the police and medical reports presented showed that the defendant sexually abused the girl.

“I believe the testimony of the survivor in total, as she eloquently and brilliantly told the court that the defendant had a condom on before he had sex with her,” the judge said.

“The survivor told the court that her aunt sent her to do some work for her at her farm where the defendant works, and that the defendant sent her to fetch water. When she came back, she met the defendant drunk and he asked her if she wanted to have fun and he ended up having sex with her.

“She said it was the farm manager that reported the case to the survivor’s sister when she narrated her ordeal in the hands of the defendant.

“Evidence of the three prosecution witnesses have sufficient proof that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the survivor.

“Evidence before this court shows that the defendant forcefully had sex with the survivor as this is corroborated in the medical report that there were bruises in her vagina, which can be as a result of struggle between her and the defendant.

“This should serve as deterrent to others. Adults should not take undue advantage of children and defile their purity.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged and hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. He should have his name written in the Lagos state sexual offenders register.”

The judge further expressed concern over the lack of sexual knowledge by the survivor, adding that it is important to educate adolescents on sex and moral awareness.