The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a 59-year-old artisan, Eze Chukwuma, to double life imprisonment for defiling his two daughters for nine years.

Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution sufficiently proved the two-count charge bordering on defilement against Mr Chukwuma.

Ms Soladoye said the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were corroborated.

According to her, valid evidence was laced and documented, and the admission of the convict to have had canal knowledge of his two daughters during cross-examination was crucial.

She said the two daughters told the court their biological father began having sex with them when their mother died during childbirth in 2008.

Ms Soldaoye said: “The defendant’s incestuous relationship with his two daughters, following the death of his wife in 2008, is senseless.

“The children were taken to their village, and even after telling their kinsmen about their father’s acts, nothing was done.

“They returned to Lagos, and the second child reported to the school after her older sister ran away from home as she could no longer endure the assault.”

The judge said the school invited the Lagos State Ministry of Education and social workers, leading to the convict’s arrest, while the survivors were taken  to an orphanage.

“He is a dirty father who should be locked up for life as his conduct is disgracing.

“The defendant is found guilty as charged and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment  on each of the two charges,” she said.

Ms Soladoye also ordered that the convict’s name should be registered in the sexual offences register of Lagos State.

The Lagos State counsel, Olufunke Adegoke, presented five witnesses while the convict testified as a sole witness during the trial.

Ms Adegoke submitted that the convict committed the offences between 2008 and 2017 at No. 2 Agbeke St. by Iyana-Era Bus Stop, Ijanikin, Lagos.

Child defilement violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. 

(NAN)