AN IKEJA Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday sentenced a civil servant, Adio Serious, to seven years imprisonment for indecently treating his 15-year-old daughter.
Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the prosecution successfully proved the second count of indecent treatment of a child against the convict, an employee of LASACO Assurance Plc.
The court, however, discharged Serious of the first count charge of defilement.
Oshodi held that there were significant inconsistencies in the testimony of the survivor (prosecutrix).
According to the judge, the survivor initially claimed her father had sexual intercourse with her, but later recanted during cross-examination, claiming she fabricated the story.
Oshodi stated that the prosecution had declared the survivor a hostile witness during the trial.
The judge noted that the survivor claimed she lied to ensure her father stopped beating her and to get authorities to scold him.
Oshodi held that the court could not rely on the survivor’s statement due to her demeanor and suspected external family or economic pressures.
The judge added that the defendant had consistently denied the defilement charge in his extra-judicial statement and during his testimony.
The court subsequently acquitted Serious of the defilement charge based on the evidence presented before it.
However, the judge found Serious guilty of indecent treatment for stripping his daughter naked and touching her private parts.
Oshodi noted that the only mitigating factor was the convict’s lack of previous criminal records.
He, however, stressed that this was substantially outweighed by the aggravating nature of the crime committed against his biological daughter.
“You have been convicted of this offence. I have considered your statement and plea for leniency. “The maximum sentence prescribed is seven years. Such conduct against your biological daughter is not tolerated in any part of Nigeria,” he added.
The court held that the convict lied repeatedly and falsely claimed the police compelled him to make incriminating statements.
Oshodi emphasised that the prevalence of sexual abuse in the state necessitated firm judicial responses to protect vulnerable children.
“Accordingly, I sentence you to seven years imprisonment. The sentence shall commence from July 4, 2022, and you shall be registered as a sex offender,” the judge ruled.
The State Counsel, Miss Bukola Okeowo, had called two witnesses, including the survivor and a medical doctor, to tender three documentary exhibits.
The convict testified as the sole witness in his defence.
According to the prosecution, the convict committed the offence between 2018 and January 2020 at Ahmadiya Bus Stop, Abule-Egba, Lagos. The offence contravenes Section 135 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
