Kemisola Oye
A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja earlier today sentenced a 53-year-old rubber trader, Kenneth Mba to life imprisonment for defiling the 12-year-old daughter of his friend.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the charge of defilement against the convict.
Justice Oshodi held that the convict’s confessional statement that he defiled the survivor in his room three times and gave her N200 each time after sex was corroborated with the survivor’s testimony.
The court, however, held that his oral evidence in court to deflate the charge did not hold water as he was a pathological liar.
According to the court, the convict betrayed the trust the survivor’s father had for him as they had been friends for over 20 years and they came from the same local government.
The judge held that the evidence of the survivor was unequivocal, straight forward and full of clarity.
The court held: “The prosecutrix told this court that she used to play with her friend, whose house was close to the defendant’s.
“She said one day she was in her friend’s house when she heard the defendant’s baby crying.
“She said she entered the defendant’s house and carried the baby and in the process, the defendant threatened and had sex with her.
“The prosecutrix said on another occasion when the defendant wanted to have sex with her, she confided in her and the process, her father was informed.”
The judge held that the confessional statement was consistent with the evidence before the court.
“I must accept that his confessional statement is true as it is consistent, unequivocal and also corroborated the prosecutrix’s evidence.
“The medical report also corroborated the prosecution witnesses’ evidence.
“There is abundant evidence that the defendant had sex with the prosecutrix,” the court held.
Justice Oshodi thereafter convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
The judge held: “You have been convicted of defilement and the offence is grave.
“You, at the age of 51, had sex with your friend’s daughter, whom you knew was 12 years old.
“In your confessional statement, you started fingering her then moved on to have sex with her three times.
“Despite the overwhelming evidence before the court, you came.to lie in your oral evidence.”
Justice Oshodi held that the charge against the convict carried a mandatory sentence.
“I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment.
“You shall serve your term in Ikoyi Custodial Centre where you are currently being held,” the court ordered.
The state counsel, Ms Inumidun Solaarin presented three witnesses while the convict testified as a sole witness.
Solaarin submitted that the convict committed the offence sometime in April 2021 on Ogunjimi Street, Iwaya, Yaba Lagos.
According to her, the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Eighteen-Eleven Media