An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a scrap seller, Nasiru Usman, to 12 years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting a four-year-old child in his shop.
Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted Usman following his guilty plea.
Usman had, in a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to an amended three-count charge of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, and indecent act.
Oshodi, while delivering the judgment, said that he was satisfied that the convict understood the nature of the offences he had pleaded guilty to.
He said the plea agreement filed before the court stipulated that the sentence should run consecutively for a total period of 12 years’ imprisonment.
Oshodi said that he had given due consideration to several pertinent factors, as the convict’s actions were perpetrated against a vulnerable four-year-old child.
He said the convict’s act represented a gross violation of trust and constituted heinous abuse of his position of authority over an innocent minor.
“The psychological trauma the convict has inflicted upon the minor is immeasurable and may have lasting effects throughout her life.
“I have considered your plea of guilty, which demonstrates some acceptance of responsibility for your actions and has spared the young victim the additional trauma of testifying in court proceedings.
“Your guilty plea also represents a saving of judicial time and resources, and I have also considered the remarks made during sentencing proceedings, wherein you expressed profound regret.
“Therefore, I find the terms of the plea bargain agreement to be fair and reasonable in the circumstances of this case.
“You are hereby sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, as per the terms of the plea agreement,” he held.
Oshodi sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on count one, three years on count two, and two years on count three.
He said the sentence should commence from the date the convict was remanded, on January 6, 2024.
The judge ordered that the convict be registered as a sex offender.
The prosecution had, on January 6, 2024, arraigned the convict on a one-count charge of defilement, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The State Counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, had told the court that the convict committed the offences on January 6, 2023, at Ghetto Corner, Lekki, Lagos.
