The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has convicted and sentenced Olumuyiwa Adjoto to double life imprisonment for defiling his wife’s six-year-old niece.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the prosecution had proved two of the three counts against Adjoto beyond reasonable doubt.
Adjoto was arraigned by the Lagos State Government on three counts: Defilement, Sexual assault by penetration, and Indecent treatment of a child.
The court found him guilty of defilement and sexual assault by penetration but discharged him on the third count.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi described the offences as “grave and heinous,” stressing that the injuries inflicted on the child may never fully heal.
“The evidence before this court has established that you defiled and sexually assaulted a six-year-old child entrusted to your care. These acts caused her immense physical and psychological trauma,” the judge stated.
Medical testimony presented during trial highlighted both immediate and long-term consequences of the abuse, including fear, social withdrawal, urinary incontinence, declining academic performance, and possible future struggles with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and relationships.
The court sentenced Adjoto to life imprisonment on each of the two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Justice Oshodi further ordered that Adjoto’s name be entered into the Sex Offenders Register in accordance with Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021.
During the trial, State Counsel Bukola Okeowo called four witnesses: the survivor, her mother, a medical officer, and an investigative police officer. Adjoto testified in his own defence as the sole witness.
The prosecution alleged that Adjoto committed the offences on 22 April 2022 at Mowo, Badagry, Lagos, after his wife left home for the market and entrusted the child to his care.
The offences were said to contravene Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
