Lagos High Court Sentences Man to Three Life Terms for Sexually Assaulting His Children
Sunday Ehigiator
A High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced a man identified as Samuel Ademola Oladimeji to three concurrent life imprisonments for the offence of ‘Sexual Assault by Penetration’ of his three children
The Judge, Hon. Justice Sholadoye of the Special Offences Court stated that the prosecution had five witnesses in person of the three girls who had been sexually abused, their mother and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) from llupeju Police Station, Family Support Unit.
The matter was reported to Lagos DSVA after the mother noted that the children complained about pain in their private parts. They were then referred to Mirabel Centre for medical evaluation; the medical report confirmed that all girls had been sexually assaulted.
The judge stated that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were unshaken but stated that the defendant’s testimony did not add up because he was simply trying to distance himself from the allegations.
The court held that the children were indeed sexually assaulted by penetration and the prosecution had successfully discharged the onus of proving beyond reasonable doubt the commission of the offence.
He was then sentenced to three concurrent life imprisonment sentences. Justice Sholadoye also ordered that the name of the convict be entered into the Lagos State’s Sexual Offences Register.
Reacting to the sentence, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency ((LagosDSVA) in a statement reiterated the state’s zero tolerance to domestic and sexual violence.
“We use this medium to commend the family of the survivors for staying with the cause even as we reiterate the State’s Zero Tolerance Stance and insist that there is help for survivors.
“Indeed, the wheel of justice is turning and perpetrators of these heinous crimes would be held accountable for their actions. Let’s continuously break the culture of silence; Report any case of Domestic or Sexual Violence by calling our Toll Free Line at 08000333333.”
