An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 45-year-old man, Paul Ndedigwe, to double life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s two children, aged six and seven.
Justice Abiola Soladoye in her judgment held that prosecution proved two of the three counts brought against him.
She said the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt counts one and two bordering on child defilement.
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Soladoye, however, discharged and acquitted Ndedigwe on count three, which also bordered on defilement.
She held that the alleged survivor failed to show up in court to give evidence.
She described Ndedigwe as rough, irresponsible and destiny destroying.
According to her, the convict, who was a neighbour to the minors, had sexual intercourse with them at the same time and in the presence of each other.
Soladoye added: “When the survivors began to cry, he turned up the volume of his television set.
“The evidence of prosecution witnesses were corroborated, truthful and unshaken.
“The defendant is hereby found guilty on count one and sentenced to life imprisonment.
“He is also found guilty on count two and sentenced to life imprisonment.”
The judge ordered that the sentencing should run concurrently and the convict’s name put in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
Lagos State counsel, Olufunke Adegoke, presented three witnesses during trial, while the convict testified solely for the defence.
Adegoke submitted that the convict committed the offence on November 19, 2021 on Ifelodun Street, Amukoko, Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that child defilement contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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