An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos State on Wednesday sentenced a school proprietor, Benson Arinze, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old pupil.
Justice Abiola Soladoye held the prosecution successfully proved the one-count charge of sexual assault by penetration against him.
Soladoye ruled that testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were corroborated, describing the evidence given by the survivor and her father as lucid and compelling.
The Judge held: “They provided sufficient evidence against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
“The evidence of the defence witnesses was self-serving and this court does not believe it.
”Upon the evidence adduced before this court, the defendant is hereby found guilty and consequently sentenced to life imprisonment.”
The court ordered that the convict’s name be registered in the sexual offenders register of the Lagos State Government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict sobbed uncontrollably immediately after the sentence was pronounced.
The State Counsel, Elizabeth Adeoye, presented two witnesses, while the defence presented three witnesses during the trial.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Arinze was initially charged alongside one of his teachers, Victor Ezenwata, for sexual assault by penetration.
Ezenwata faced a three-count charge of sexual assault by penetration, unlawful sexual intercourse, and indecent treatment of the survivor.
He, however, opted for a plea bargain and was subsequently sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.
Arinze maintained his innocence, which necessitated a full trial.
