LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – A cobbler, Alex Michael and a self- acclaimed cleric, Yakubu Isiaka, have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Lagos Sexual Offences Court in Ikeja for having defiling a 13-year-old girl.
The duo were sent to life in jail by Justice Ramon Oshodi, after being found guilty on a two-count charge made against them by the Lagos State Government.
Recall that the convicts were first arraigned and had pleaded not guilty before Justice Sybil Nwaka of the same court before she was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
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The first defendamt, Michael, was alleged to have had carnal knowledge of the under-aged girl three times while the cleric, Isiaka, was said to have had unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim, two times.
The Prosecution team, Babajide Boye, O. Aluko and I. D. Solarin, tendered documents as exhibits.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution proved the case of defilement against the defendants and subsequently sentenced them to life imprisonment.
According to the judge, “The confession in Exhibit P2 was corroborated by the IPO, who testified that the first defendant admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the victim three times. “I also believe that the first defendant had the opportunity to commit the crime. He was the survivor’s neighbour and knew her well.
“I believe that the confession in Exhibit P2 is possible and is consistent with other facts which have been ascertained as articulated in this judgment.
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“Consequently, I believe that Exhibit P2 is a direct, positive, and unequivocal admission of guilt by the first defendant. “You had sexual intercourse with the victim who, to your knowledge, was a child. You both admitted this crime to police officers at the Owutu Police Division, Ikorodu.
“You, Mr Alex Michael, said that you had sexual intercourse with the victim three times because she was flirting around you. You also shared phonographic materials on your mobile phone with the victim.
“As for you, Mr Yakub Isiaka (a.k.a. Alfa), the evidence shows that you had sexual intercourse with the victim twice.
“The first time, you gave her N500, the second time, you gave her N200.
“Our laws in Lagos State have zero tolerance for sexual crimes.
“The charge of defilement, for which you have both been convicted, carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, which sends a signal that it is unacceptable.”
