In a significant verdict, Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced Ifeanyi Ndieze to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl within the premises of a Lagos church.
During the trial held on Tuesday, the judge determined that the prosecution had successfully substantiated the charge of sexual assault by penetration, in accordance with Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The court heard that the child positively identified the defendant as the individual who had carried her during a church event and subsequently assaulted her by inserting his finger into her private parts. This disturbing incident led to the child’s severe bleeding, which was discovered by her mother during bath time.
Medical professionals confirmed that the child had been forcibly penetrated, and her underwear, soaked with blood, was submitted as evidence. The defendant’s denial of the offense was described as an act of pathological dishonesty by Justice Soladoye.
In light of these findings, Ifeanyi Ndieze was declared guilty of sexually assaulting the four-year-old child and sentenced to life imprisonment. Furthermore, his name will be added to the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register as part of the judgment.
Justice Soladoye took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of parental responsibility and cautioned against leaving young children in the care of their siblings. The prosecution was led by Lagos State counsel, Mrs. Olufunke Adegoke, who presented four witnesses and four exhibits to support the case.
The offense, which took place on October 29, 2020, on Salau Street in Lagos, was prosecuted by the Lagos State Government.
