An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday, sentenced a man, Joseph Ekanem, to double life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s 13-year-old daughter.

Delivering judgement, the trial judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, held that the prosecution had proved all the ingredients of the charges filed against Mr Ekanem, beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him accordingly.

Ms Soladoye said the evidence adduced before the court was sufficient proof that the convict committed the crime, notwithstanding his denial.

The judge held that Mr Ekanem was guilty of the two-count charge of sexual assault by penetration and defilement, contrary to Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

Ms Soladoye, who described Mr Ekanem as a “sexual terrorist, who ravishes children,” ordered that the convict’s name should be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

She said: “The defendant is a bare-faced liar, who has shown to be a pathological liar, is a disloyal, egoistic and a terrible person, whose perversion is unacceptable.

“His actions are beastly, he should be locked away for life, as his conduct is utterly disgraceful. He is found guilty of the two charges and hereby sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the charges.”

Reviewing the case further, the judge said the convict was a neighbour to the survivor, and attacked her while she was bathing in a shared bathroom.

Ms Soladoye narrated that the survivor screamed when she was attacked by the convict, and he tried to cover her mouth when her neighbour heard her screaming.

The judge said that other neighbours gathered and started beating him in the bathroom until the father of the survivor arrived and had him arrested by the police.

“He pushed her out of the bathroom when he was found out.

“The survivor confirmed that it was not the first time,” Ms Soladoye added.

Earlier during the trial, the state counsel, Olufunke Adegoke, presented two witnesses, while the convict testified as a sole witness.

Mrs Adegoke said the convict committed the offences on Feb. 6, 2021, on Oke-Awo Street, Bariga, Lagos.

The prosecutor also submitted that the convict had sexual intercourse with the survivor and physically assaulted her by touching her breasts.

(NAN)