- 64-year-old Durojaiye was convicted and sentenced by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday
One Lateef Durojaiye will spend the rest of his life in jail for defiling his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter, a court in Lagos State has ruled.
64-year-old Durojaiye was convicted and sentenced by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday.
According to the presiding judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, the prosecution proved the ingredients of defilement against Durojaye, beyond reasonable doubt.
Oshodi averred that the convict’s case had a complicated history as he was initially charged and arraigned on Aug. 5, 2021, but the case was dismissed on Nov. 29, 2021, for want of diligent prosecution.
The court said the case was re-listed to the court and was re-arraigned on May 22, 2022, and April 16, 2022, in which he pleaded not guilty.
The judge said the convict made flimsy attempt to deny the offence but failed as the survivor did not only endure physical trauma but also the physiological burden of keeping the secret under threat.
He said the evidence of the survivor was corroborated by the medical report and the evidence of other prosecution witnesses.
According to him, the survivor gives a direct account of how the convict defiled her.
The court also held that the medical doctor corroborated the witness’s testimony while giving a medical examination of discovering injuries with consistent forceful penetration