AGS NEWS – The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has handed down a life sentence to Olagbade Jeremiah, a 79-year-old carpenter, for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

Justice Abiola Soladoye, in her ruling delivered on Monday, March 4, declared that the prosecution successfully demonstrated the offense of defilement against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

Jeremiah faced a single count of sexual assault by penetration as charged by the state.

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Lead prosecution counsel Olusola Soneye, who is the Director of Public Prosecutions, presented evidence that the defendant violated Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, by inserting his finger into the victim’s vagina.

The incident occurred in 2021 within the convict’s workshop at the Mammy Barracks Market in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

During the trial, three witnesses, including the victim, testified for the prosecution.

The victim disclosed that Jeremiah used to purchase sachet water from her and would then sexually assault her, giving her N100 each time.

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The victim refrained from reporting the abuse out of fear of her mother’s reprisal, as she was beaten when previously confronted about hawking sachet water.