Man jailed for life for defiling 12-year old girl
Justice Raman Oshodi of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a 50-year-old man, Ekaoma Harrison to life imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl of his neighbor.
- By Olamide Olamilekan
Justice Raman Oshodi of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a 50-year-old man, Ekaoma Harrison to life imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl of his neighbor.
Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution, led by Ajibola Lawal, successfully proved the offence of defilement against the convict.The convict was arraigned before the court on a two count charge offence of defilement and indecent treatment of a child.
During trial, the court heard that the victim’s mother had moved her child from Enugu to Lagos in pursuit of a better life, following which he accepted an offer from the defendant’s wife to accommodate the young girl in their Ikeja home.
This arrangement took another turn on April 22, 2023, when the defendant confronted the child with a pornographic video on his phone.
In her testimony, the victim recounted to the court how the defendant had demanded they “try” what was in the video.
The victim told the court that she refused, crying that “it’s child abuse, daddy.”
The court heard that the convict ignored her pleas and forced himself on the victim and threatened to kill both the girl and her mother if she reported the matter to the Police.
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The court heard that the victim however informed her mother, who confronted the defendant’s wife.
The court heard that when the convict’s wife first questioned her husband about the allegations, he fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness, claiming it was “the work of the devil.”
The victim’s mother however sought justice through an NGO, leading to a formal police report.
Medical evidence provided by Dr. Alagbe of the Mirabel Centre led to the conviction of the defendant.
The doctor had testified that clinical examinations conducted three weeks after the incident revealed redness, itching, and discharge consistent with multiple forceful penetrations in the virgina of the survivor.
Defense counsel Chukwuma Ezeala pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the defendant had no prior criminal record.
Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had proved her case against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.
The court held that Harrison betrayed a position of trust reposed in him.
Justice Oshodi sentenced the convict to life imprisonment for the offence of defilement.
The convict was however discharged of the offence of indecent treatment of a child.
The court ordered that the convict’s name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
