COURT SENTENCES PRINTER TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR DEFILEMENT OF 11-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOUR’S DAUGHTER

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An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a printer, Emmanuel Lakehinde to life imprisonment for conspiring and defiling his 11- year-old neighbour’s daughter (name withheld) in the bathroom.Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted and sentenced Lakehinde to life imprisonment in Kirikiri Custodial Centre on the two-count count charge of defilement and conspiracy.

Lakehinde was initially arraigned alongside one Sesan Oluwole before a magistrate court, sometimes in 2015 but Oluwole took to his heels after he was granted bail.

The first defendant, Lakehinde, thereafter appeared alone in court on 14 July 2022 for arraignment in which he had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution, in one of the counts, submitted that the defendant (with one other still at large) unlawfully had sexual intercourse with an eleven-year-old girl on Dec.12, 2013 on Sanusi Street, Somolu, Lagos.

Oshodi, in his judgment, held that he was satisfied that the prosecution proved the charge beyond against the convict, beyond reasonable doubt.

According to him, the charge of defilement, which is punishable with life imprisonment, reflects the gravity with which the law views the sexual violation of children, who
are amongst the most vulnerable members of our society and who are entitled to protection from predatory conduct by adults.

The judge said that the convict exploited his proximity to the survivor who was living in the same compound where he worked.

He said: “You breached the trust that should exist between adults and children.

“The survivor, whom the prosecution observed during sentencing, is present in court today with her grandfather and was
only eleven years old at the time you committed this heinous offence.

“According to the prosecution, the survivor and her family rejected your request for a plea bargain, reasonably so, because your actions have caused irreparable harm to her, and the trauma resulting from your conduct will stay with her for the rest of her life.

“While I have considered all matters presented on your behalf, I must weigh these factors against the importance of protecting children, punishing offenders, deterring others from similar offences and sending a firm message that the sexual exploitation of children will not be tolerated
in our society.”

The court, having convicted Lakehinde, of the two-counts charge, thereafter sentenced him to life imprisonment for defilement and
and 10 years jail term for conspiracy.

The judge, however, said that the sentencing should run concurrently.

The court also ordered that the convict’s name be entered into the Sex Offenders Register in accordance with sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021.

The state Lead Counsel, Mr Babajide Boye called three witnesses; the survivor, her grandfather and a medical officer through whom compelling testimonies and exhibits were admitted into evidence.

The convict, however, had testified as a sole witness for defence.

According to the prosecution, the offences contravene Sections 137 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.