Court sentences cleric, cobbler to life behind bars for defiling 13-year-old
Michael said that he had sexual intercourse with the girl three times because she was flirting around him.
Twomen, Alex Michael and Yakubu Isiaka, are to cool their heels for life at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, for having the carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old.
An Ikeja Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi, handed down the sentences on Wednesday.
In sentencing the duo, Justice Oshodi said the prosecution proved the case of defilement against Michael, a cobbler, and Isiaka, a cleric, beyond reasonable doubt.
He held that the convicts failed to tender any statement to prove their innocence before the court
“The only statement before the court is the confession by Michael, corroborated by the Investigating Police officer, who testified that the convict admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the victim three times.
“I also believe that Michael had the opportunity to commit the crime since he was a neighbor of the victim,’’ the judge said.
He added that both convicts admitted to the police at Owutu Police Division, Ikorodu, that they had carnal knowledge of the underage girl.
“You, Michael, said that you had sexual intercourse with the girl three times because she was flirting around you.
“You also shared pornographic materials about the victim on your mobile phone.
“As for you, Isiaka, the evidence before this court shows that you had sexual intercourse with the girl twice.
“You gave her N500 the first time you had intercourse with her and N200 the second time,’’ Justice Oshodi said.
He said he found the duo guilty of the two-count charge of defilement and sentenced them to life imprisonment accordingly.
Justice Oshodi ordered that the names of the convicts be registered in the sex offenders register maintained by the Lagos State government.
The lead prosecutor, Mr. Babajide Boye, had earlier told the court that the convicts committed the offenses between October and November 2019 in Ikorodu.
The offense, according to him, contravened the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).