“The purposes of sentencing in this case must prioritise the protection of the public, particularly vulnerable children and to send a message to others. Taking all factors into account, I sentence you to life imprisonment and you will be registered as a sex offender.”
metro
Groundnut seller gets life sentence for defiling four-year-old
Groundnut seller gets life sentence for defiling four-year-old
The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced Sunday Uche, a 21-year-old groundnut trader, to life imprisonment for defiling a four year-old-girl
Justice Ramon Oshodi held that the prosecution was able to prove the offence of defilement against the convict without reasonable doubt, stating that the defendant’s actions were heinous and deserving of the maximum punishment under the law.
Uche was remanded in custody on February 1, 2017, on a count of defilement by penetration preferred against him by the state, to which he pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution counsel, I.D. Solarin, the offence committed by Uche contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The court heard that the incident occurred on February 2, 2017, in the house of the convict.
Uche, who worked as a groundnut trader, defiled the minor in his home after she came to beg for groundnuts.
“I was at home when one small boy brought a four-year-old girl to my house to beg for groundnuts, so I decided to have sexual intercourse with her. After everything, I gave her some groundnuts. The small baby cried. I knew what I was doing was wrong but I was so eager, but I did not release inside the vagina. After releasing sperm, I became weak, surprisingly the mother of the girl came to my house to look for me,” he said.
READ ALSO:
- Super Eagles Ademola Lookman wins Africa’s Best footballer award
- Panama beat Bolivia to reach Copa quarters
- Ronaldo in tears after extra-time penalty miss for Portugal at Euro
The victim’s mother reported the crime to the authorities, leading to Uche’s arrest.
PUNCH Metro gathered that during cross-examination, Uche presented a starkly different account of the event that happened on February 2, 2017. But once he was presented with judicial Exhibit E, a statement made by him on February 3, 2017, at the State Criminal Investigation Department, the overall case significantly shifted.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Oshodi Ramon held that the evidence presented found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, under Sections 135i and 139 of the Criminal Law of Lagos.
“Based on the evidence presented, a statement of the IPO of the Sabo Police Command, Lagos State, a statement from the victim’s mother, the police referral for medical examination, a detailed medical report from Mirabel Centre dated February 2, 2017, and the defendant’s statements, I find the defendant guilty and convict him under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos.”
He further held, “This is a grave offence that carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The parts of this case are alarming: you took advantage of a four-year-old girl who came to you simply asking for groundnut. You exploited her vulnerability and trust, in the most heinous way imaginable. The physical and psychological harm you have inflicted on this young victim is immeasurable and likely to have a long-lasting effect.”
He convicted the defendant on one count of defilement by penetration and sentenced him to life imprisonment, ordering that the name of the convict should be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
Justice Oshodi acknowledged the convict’s plea for mercy, saying, “I have considered other factors like the lack of previous convictions and your plea for mercy and sentencing. However, the aggravating factors outweigh any other circumstances.
metro
Ramadan ends in Nigeria, Sultan announces March 30 as Eid-el-Fitr
Ramadan ends in Nigeria, Sultan announces March 30 as Eid-el-Fitr
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad, says the crescent moon marking the end of Ramadan fasting has been sighted.
The Sultan, who is president of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSIA), said in a broadcast on Saturday night, “Today marks the end of the Ramadan fasting and Sunday, March 30, is the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.”
metro
Embrace environmental sanitation during Eid-Fitr, LAGESC boss tells Lagosians
Embrace environmental sanitation during Eid-Fitr, LAGESC boss tells Lagosians
By Dada Jackson
The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has urged Lagosians to embrace proper environmental practices and obey the state’s environmental laws ahead of the Eid-l-Fitr festivities to mark the end of the Ramadan fast by Muslim faithful around the world.
Corps Marshal of the agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (retd), sounded the call at the agency’s command headquarters at Bolade-Oshodi.
He said, ‘‘The Ramadan fast is a testament to the willingness of Muslim faithful to adhere to the pillars of their faith and it is enjoined that cleanliness is an important religious practice in all faiths, which is why we admonish Lagosians to imbibe proper waste disposal and keep their environment clean during the celebration.”
Cole also advised Lagosians to make proper use of pedestrian bridges for their safety instead of crossing highways to prevent ‘hit and run’ cases by speeding motorists.
He equally read a riot act to miscreants in the habit of converting pedestrian bridges to sleeping areas which deters Lagosians in transit, pedestrians vowing that anyone caught w be made to face the state Environmental laws as amended
The KAI boss also revealed that the agency had recorded giant strides and would not relent in ridding pedestrian bridges across Lagos of criminal obstructions, traders and hawkers with daily arrests made alongside secured prosecutions by the Courts.
The Corps Marshal also warned Lagosians to desist from street trading, use of Styrofoam pack, hawking in traffic, patronage of cart pushers for refuse disposal, and erection of illegal structures on laybys, setbacks, medians, road verges, kerbs or around public schools in the state.
The KAI head said offenders would be made to face the consequences via prosecution in a competent court of appropriate jurisdiction.
metro
Mother, daughter who stole ponmo, stock fish in Ogun jailed six months
Mother, daughter who stole ponmo, stock fish in Ogun jailed six months
A Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State yesterday sentenced a mother, Falilatu Amidu, and her daughter, Ayisatu, to six months imprisonment each for stealing dry ponmo, stock fish and dried meat valued N1 million
The defendants, who reside at No 21 Ago-Oko area of Abeokuta, were convicted on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Odumosu, held that the evidence presented by the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts were guilty of the offence as charged.
Odumosu sentenced both mother and daughter to six months in prison each with an option of N5,000 fine.
She ordered that the convicts should refund N100,000 each to the complainant as restitution before accessing the N5,000 fine option.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Kehinde Fawunmi, had told the court that the defendants committed the offence at Lafenwa market sometime in August 2024.
Fawunmi explained that Falilatu conspired with her daughter, Ayisatu, to steal a big sack containing stock fish, dried ponmo and dried cow meat valued N1million, belonging to one Mrs kafayat Alao.
According to him, one of the defendants, Falilatu, used to help the complainant to carry load from her store in Lafenwa to where the complainant sells her items.
READ ALSO:
- Ex-Rivers HoS wife cries for help over husband’s safety
- Fubara reacts as Ex-HOS, Nwaeke accuses him of bombing oil pipelines, Rivers Assembly
- Natasha: Emmanuel Uduaghan threatens to sue Senator Nwaebonyi
“The complainant asked her to help her pick some goods from the store. She waited for over an hour and did not see the defendant, which made her to go to the store to check on her.
“On getting to the store, she did not find Falilatu, and she noticed a big bag containing dried meat, ponmo and stock fish was missing while the defendant was nowhere to be found,” he said.
Fawunmi further explained that Falilatu stole the goods and gave it to her daughter (Ayisatu) to sell. He said Ayisatu received the goods from her mother, knowing that they were stolen.
The prosecutor noted that the offence committed contravened sections 516, 390(9) and 127 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.
Mother, daughter who stole ponmo, stock fish in Ogun jailed six months
-
Uncategorized8 hours agoBreaking: Moon sighted in Saudi, UAE, others, Eid-Fitr holds Sunday
-
metro3 days agoRivers administrator Ibas fires Fubara’s political appointees
-
metro3 days agoJUST-IN: Ex-Oyo gov Ajimobi’s first child Bisola dies At 42
-
metro3 days agoFG declares public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr
-
metro2 days agoEFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud
-
Africa3 days agoNiger coup leader sworn in as president for five years
-
metro3 days agoNatasha: Murray-Bruce slams Atiku, defends Akpabio
-
International3 days agoAI will replace doctors, teachers, others in 10 years – Bill Gates