An apprentice, Godwin Ogboniya, who sexually assaulted his employer’s nine-year-old daughter, was on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
Justice Abiola Soladoye who handed down the sentence held that the convict, who had lived with the survivor’s father for three years, was an “unkind and unworthy employee who embarked on sexual frolicking with the nine-year-old girl.”
The judge held that the prosecution proved the one-count charge of sexual assault by penetration against Ogboniya beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Soladoye further held that she believed the evidence of all the prosecution witnesses as the exhibit tendered was self-explanatory and spoke volumes.
“This convict has been found guilty as charged, penetrating the vagina of the young victim. He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
“He should have his name registered in the sexual offences register, as maintained by Lagos State,” she said.
The judge urged parents and guardians to be watchful not to entrust their children in the hands of irresponsible adults like the defendant.
During the trial, the state prosecution counsel, Abimbola Abolade, called four witnesses while the convict testified as the sole witness for his defence.
Abolade said the convict committed the offence between 2019 and 2021 on Ogbewi Street, Cele Egbe in Ikotun, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
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