A 34-year-old man, Ekene Okechukwu, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for defiling a 12-year-old girl.
The convict thereafter pleaded with the court to show him mercy on behalf of his 3months infant daughter.
Magistrate Bolanle O. Osusanmi of an Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos sentenced Okechukwu to 7 years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl, while also refusing to grant bail to his three friends arraigned alongside with him.
According to the police prosecutor, ASP Simon Imhonwa, the four accused persons, who are also the victim’s neighbours, committed the offence sometimes in February, April, September, 2016 and August 2017 at Seme Border, Lagos.
Imhonwa said that the four men unlawfully and sexually assaulted the victim, an orphan, who was in primary five at the time of the incidence.
He said: “The 1st defendants, Okechukwu, defiled the victim in February while she was hawking pap and bean cake (popularly known as ‘Akara’) for her Aunty.
“He lured her into his shop, pinned her down to the floor which was covered with a carton, undressed her and penetrated her private part.
“He, thereafter raped her thrice on different occasions also.
“The 2nd defendant, Obi, also invited the victim to his house on the pretense of buying ‘pap and Akara’ but he raped her instead. He also raped her twice that same day.
“The 3rd defendant also lured the girl to his room and raped her. But the fourth defendant, Ngbada claimed he didn’t penetrate her but only pressed her breast and buttocks twice in his own room.
“However, the victim’s Aunty, Madame Justina, suspected a change in the girl’s behavior when she questioned her about her relationship with the second defendant.
“The girl fearfully narrated her ordeal in the hands of the men and Madame Justina subsequently reported the matter to the police.
“A medical test conducted at Mirabel Medical Center in Lagos revealed that the victim had been penetrated,” he said.
While Okechukwu pleaded guilty to the offence, the three others identified as: Chinedu Obi, 39, Fatai Jimoh, 40, Festus Ngbada, 38, docked for the same offence, denied the allegation.
However, during his plea for mercy, Okechukwu told the court that his wife was recently delivered of a baby girl who would be needing full parental support.
“My wife just gave birth to our first daughter who is barely 3 months old.
“Please your Lordship, tamper justice with mercy. My family really needs me, especially my 3 months old baby girl, to be there to take care of them.
“I am sorry for what I did to the small girl but my baby has nobody to take care of her if anything happens to me”, he pleads.
During the facts and sentencing, Magistrate Osusanmi said, ” the 1st defendant, Mr Okechukwu is hereby sentenced to 7 years in prison while the bail application for the three other accused persons is refused.
“The 2nd and 3rd defendant, Obi and Jimoh, however, can approach a High Court for their bail if they wish to.
“The fourth defendant is hereby granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum,” she said.
and then