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Man, 72, bags life imprisonment for defiling neighbour’s 7-year-old daughter

Published

2 months ago

July 9, 2024

Man, 72, bags life imprisonment for defiling neighbour’s 7-year-old daughter

In Lagos State, one David Jackson has been sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s seven-year-old daughter.

Jackson, a 72-year-old security guard, was convicted and sentenced by the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday.

The presiding judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, handed down the judgment after she held that the prosecution had proved the three ingredients of defilement against him beyond reasonable doubt

Delivering her judgment, Soladoye held that the victim was seven years old when the septuagenarian committed the crime, but was eight years old when she testified before the court and identified Jackson as a gateman in one of the houses on her street.

She held, “A brother of the survivor sent her on an errand on this day and when she passed and greeted the convict, Jackson, he dragged her inside the room and she shouted but he used his handkerchief to cover her mouth.

“The testimony of the survivor was clear, consistent and coherent under cross-examination.

“The second prosecution witness was a teacher who identified the survivor as her student and she testified that one of her classmates had reported to her that the survivor was not feeling well and that she was walking in a funnily way.

“The teacher, in her evidence, stated that she made an inquiry and discovered that the survivor was complaining of pains on her private parts and that someone had sexually assaulted her.”

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Justice Soladoye also said that the teacher invited the survivor’s parents but they did not come around, hence she reported the case leading to the survivor being referred to the Mirabel Medical Centre in Ikeja, noting that the medical report from the centre was forwarded to the police.

The judge further held that the testimony of the survivor’s father was credible and also corroborated the evidence of the other two prosecution witnesses.

Soladoye noted that attempts of the convict to shy away from the charge did not hold water.

She said: ”The father of the survivor who testified identified Jackson as a security guard around his neighbourhood and that he was with his wife, who was ill in the hospital when the incident happened.

“The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were credible, convincing, compelling and the prosecution proved the case of defilement against Jackson.

“First, the survivor was a child as she came to the court to testify. Secondly, Jackson had sexual intercourse with her and there was no consent as the survivor is a minor.”

“Jackson is consequently found guilty as charged for the defilement of a seven-year-old child contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge held.

She also ordered that the name of the convict be registered in the Sexual Offences Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.

The state prosecution counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade, called three witnesses during the trial while the convict testified as the sole witness.

Abolade said that the convict committed the offence on May 16, 2022, at Oyedele Close, Ojodu, in the Berger area in Lagos State.

Man, 72, bags life imprisonment for defiling neighbour’s 7-year-old daughter

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Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

Published

11 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a renowned Islamic Scholar in Kaduna State

Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has dismissed allegations that politicians are behind the rising insecurity in northern Nigeria.

In recent months, the North-West region has faced increasing banditry and violence, leading to the deaths of many, including the monarch of Gobir in Sokoto State. The unrest has sparked claims that politicians may be funding the violence for their own gain.

In 2021, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, alleged that some politicians were sponsoring the banditry seen across the country. However, in an interview with Punch, Sheikh Gumi denied these claims, stating that there is no evidence to suggest that politicians are fueling the unrest in the North.

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He said;

“This is an unintelligent allegation. No politician is sponsoring these people. We are all victims. The opposition is not even behind this. This is a natural reaction of people neglected for centuries without education.

“Now they are exposed to the world and they want education. These people are exposed to the Internet and they see how much they are deprived. They want to fight back. This act is not by anybody.”

Banditry outcome of people neglected for centuries — Gumi

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152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

Published

12 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba

152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters Friday said troops during the week killed a total of 152 terrorists and arrested 109.

The military high command also stated that the strongholds of two notorious terrorist leaders — the Sadiku enclave at Tsora Hill in Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State; and the Yusuf enclave in Yadi Forest, Giwa LG, Kaduna State, were destroyed.

The Director of Media Operations, Edward Buba, in a statement, said the troops’ achievements were an indication that the military was steadily progressing towards the goal of destroying all criminal elements.

“The war against terrorists, insurgents, violent extremists and others perpetrating insecurity in the country rages, and troops are sustaining the momentum to achieve victory. Indeed, the armed forces are steadily progressing towards the goal of destruction of all these elements.

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“Given recent events, the military learns every day and makes improvements on ways to better deal with threat situations posed by these terror groups. Troops are moving in against the terrorists and denying them freedom of action.

“During the week, troops carried out surgical operations against two prominent terrorist commanders and decimated their strongholds, namely, Sadiku enclave in Tsora Hill in Safana LGA of Katsina State and Alhaji Yusuf enclave in Yadi Forest in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.”

“Overall, troops operations during the week resulted in 152 terrorists neutralised, 109 arrested and 91 hostages rescued,” Buba said.

He noted that during the operations against crude oil theft, products worth N795 million were recovered.

Buba urged the citizens to support the troops to win the war against insecurity in the country.

152 terrorists killed, 109 arrested in 1 week – DHQ

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Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

Published

15 hours ago

September 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Commissioner of Police, Delta State CP Olufemi Abaniwonda

Six kidnappers arrested in Delta, N2.3m ransom recovered

Six persons have been apprehended in Delta State over their alleged involvement in kidnapping.

The suspects were arrested in Uvwie Local Government Area of the State by police operatives from Ebrumede Division.

They also recovered from them a ransom of N2,344,000 (Two million, three hundred and forty-four thousand naira), with some stolen mobile phones.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda announced the development while briefing journalists in Asaba.

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CP Abaniwonda said, “Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of Ebrumede division while on patrol duty intercepted a tricycle conveying six-passengers.

“The suspects on sighting the Police attempted to escape but the operatives chased and arrested them.

“Upon search of the suspects, two million, three hundred and forty-four thousand naira was recovered.

“Some suspected stolen phones were also recovered. Further investigation revealed that the phone belonged to their kidnapped victims and the money was part of the ransom the victims paid for their freedom.”