The Ikeja Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday sentenced 25-year-old teacher, Chukwunonso Okafor, to life imprisonment for sexually abusing a three-year-old child at his workplace.
Justice Abiola Soladoye convicted Chukwunonso on three counts, ruling that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
On the first count, Justice Soladoye sentenced Chukwunonso to life imprisonment for sexual assault, specifically for inserting his penis into the victim’s vagina, an offence contrary to Section 261 of the Criminal Law, Chapter 17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The second count, defilement, also attracted a life sentence under Section 137 of the same law.
The third count carried a seven-year imprisonment term under Section 135. All sentences are to run concurrently.
The victim, who was present in court, testified that the convict had been sucking her breast and penetrating her vagina.
Justice Soladoye stated, “You descended so low by having oral sex with your victim. Your action is barbaric.”
The judge further noted that the victim’s testimony corroborated that of the first prosecution witness.
The offences reportedly occurred between July and December 2022 at Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos State, where Okafor was employed as a teacher.
Justice Soladoye declared, “The defendant is hereby found guilty of the three count charges of sexual assault of a child and is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”