TheCable

The Lagos state sexual offences and domestic violence court has sentenced one Ugochukwu Onuoha to life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s 5-year-old daughter.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) said the offence contravenes section 137 of the criminal laws of Lagos, 2015.

Onuoha reportedly committed the offence at Achakpo St., Olodi Apapa area of Lagos on June 20, 2021.

During the trial, Rahman Oshodi, the presiding judge, said the survivor was a child at the time the offence was committed.

Oshodi said the survivor’s mother told the court that Onuoha apologised and promised not to do it again, adding that “it again was an admission which corroborated the prosecutrix’s evidence”.

“There is abundant evidence that the defendant committed the crime,” the judge said.

“The evidence shows that the defendant had defiled the survivor, who, to his knowledge, was a child.”

The judge said the medical evidence indicated short and long-term impacts on the survivor, adding that she suffered structural damage to the vagina, the uterus, and other surrounding organs.

He sentenced Onuoha to life imprisonment and also ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos state sexual offences register.

The Lagos state domestic and sexual violence agency said the state does not tolerate any form of violence.

The agency added that it is committed to supporting survivors and ensuring perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence are punished.