Kemisola Oye
A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja earlier today sentenced a 50-year-old trader, Chukwuemeka Ejike to 14 years imprisonment for attempting to sexually assault a nine-year-old girl.
Justice Rahman Oshodi handed down the sentence following Ejike’s plea bargain agreement with the Lagos State government and the subsequent amendment of the initial charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration.
Justice Oshodi held that he was satisfied that the convict understood the nature of the plea bargain and the gravity of the charge against him.
Justice Oshodi further noted that the convict had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement upon his arraignment on 30th July 2021 in which three prosecution witnesses had testified against him.
According to the court: “The prosecutrix, her father and a medical doctor had testified against the defendant.
“The prosecutrix told the court that the defendant had a forceful intercourse and that he covered her mouth when she tried to shout.
“Her evidence was corroborated by the testimony of the medical doctor and the medical report conducted at the Mirabel Medical Centre on 8th June 2017.
“However, when the case was called today, the prosecution informed the court that the defendant had opted for a plea bargain and he was re-arraigned on an amended information dated 4th January 2024”.
The defence counsel, Ms Chinwe Owojori in her allocutus, prayed the court to temper justice with her.
Owojori told the court that the convict had turned a new leaf and had not wasted the precious time of the court.
The judge further held that from the evidence led by the prosecution, he was satisfied that the essential elements of an attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration had been established.
According to him: “There is an abundance of evidence to support it and accordingly I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged.
“You have done a terrible thing, I do not understand what you want from attempting to assault a child.
“However, I have considered the plea bargain that you signed and the allocutus from your counsel.
“I hereby sentence you to 14 years imprisonment which will start from the day of your remand.”
Justice Oshodi held that the name of the convict be added to the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
The state counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo earlier informed the court that the convict committed the offence on 20th May 2017 at about 4.00 p.m. on Samson Street, Oke-Odo, in Agege, Lagos.
She submitted that the convict attempted to insert his penis into the vagina of the survivor.
According to her, the offence contravenes Section 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
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