Sunday George, an artisan, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court. George was found guilty of sexually defiling his neighbour’s 12-year-old daughter.
The state prosecutor, Olusola Soneye, who called two witnesses to prove the case, told the judge that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015) and was punishable with life imprisonment. The judge held that the state had sufficiently proven the charge of defilement against the convict beyond all reasonable doubt.
Justice Soladoye described George as an “irresponsible adult and a pathological liar.” She held that the court was satisfied with the survivor’s testimony, which was unambiguous. The defendant defiled her by having sex with her in the bathroom and threatened her not to tell anyone.
The judge noted that identifications in criminal cases are very pertinent. In this case, the survivor identified the man in the dock as their neighbour who defiled her severally in the bathroom and his room. The evidence of the IPO corroborated her testimony.
“The defendant is an irresponsible adult and a shameless paedophile whose denial of having any sexual relations with the survivor is an afterthought. Upon careful review of the evidence before the court, the defendant is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge stated.
Justice Soladoye also ordered that the name of the convict should be entered into the Sexual Offenders Register maintained by the Lagos State government