Lagos Court Imprisons Man for Life for Sexually Assaulting Wife’s 6-Year-Old Niece

Lagos Court Imprisons Man for Life for Sexually Assaulting Wife’s 6-Year-Old Niece

A Lagos court has sentenced Olumuyiwa Adjoto to life imprisonment after convicting him of defilement and sexual assault of a six-year-old girl, his wife’s niece, highlighting Nigeria’s strict stance against child sexual abuse.

The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi, handed down the double life sentence on Monday, January 19, 2026. Adjoto was found guilty on two of three counts brought against him for sexually abusing the child at Erubami House along Primary School Road in Mowo, Badagry, Lagos State, on April 22, 2022. The court discharged him on a third count of indecent treatment of a child.

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The judge described the offences as “grave” and emphasized the physical and psychological trauma inflicted on the young victim. Adjoto has also been ordered to be registered on the Sex Offenders Register under Lagos State law.

During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from the victim, her mother, a medical officer, and a police investigator, all of which helped the court conclude that the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The sentencing reflects Nigeria’s intensified efforts to tackle child sexual abuse and defilement. The Nigerian Senate has also proposed legislation mandating life imprisonment for defilement of minors, part of broader initiatives to strengthen protections for children. Previous high-profile convictions across Lagos and other states reinforce the judiciary’s strict position on sexual crimes against minors.

Child rights advocates have welcomed the verdict but stress the need for expanded support systems for victims, including counseling and medical care, to address the trauma and deter future offences.

Lagos Court Imprisons Man for Life for Sexually Assaulting Wife’s 6-Year-Old Niece