A 59-year-old artisan has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Lagos, for defiling his two daughters. Chukwuma violated his young daughters for a period of nine years.
In her verdict, Hon. Justice Abiola Soladoye who found Chukwuma guilty as charged by the Lagos State government, held that the prosecution has sufficiently proved the allegations of defilement against him.
The state had arraigned the defendant on a two-count charge bordering on defilement.
According to the prosecution, the defendant committed the offences between 2008 and 2017, at 2, Agbeke Street, Iyana-Era Bus Stop, Ijanikin area of Lagos State.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke, called five witnesses, while Chukwuma testified alone.
Justice Soladoye in her judgment, held that the testimonies of prosecution witnesses were corroborated.
“The defendant’s incestuous relationship with his two daughters, following the death of his wife in 2008, was senseless. The evidence was laced, and documented, while the admission of the convict to have had carnal knowledge of his two daughters during cross-examination was crucial,” she said.
The court further upheld the victims’ testimonies that their biological father had been having sex with them since their mother’s death during childbirth.
“The oldest was nine years old at the time. The children were taken to their village, and even after reporting to their kinsmen about their father’s acts, nothing was done.
“The second child reported to the school after her older sister ran away from home, as she could no longer endure the assault. The school invited the Lagos State Ministry of Education and social workers, which led to the convict’s arrest, while the survivors were taken to an orphanage.
“The defendant admitted the act and stated that he was sorry. This is also in his statement, which was admitted and marked exhibit A. He is a dirty father, who should be locked up for life as his conduct is disgraceful,” the judge held.
Consequently, the court found the defendant guilty as charged and sentenced him to life imprisonment on each of the two counts.
The judge also ordered that the convict’s name be registered in the Sexual Offences Register of Lagos State.
She thanked the survivors and their school authorities for speaking up and reporting to the necessary authorities.
