In a landmark verdict, an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos, today, has sentenced a man named Ifeanyi Ndieze to life imprisonment for his heinous act of sexually assaulting a child within the confines of a church.
The victim was four years old at the time of the crime in 2020.
The ruling, handed to him by Justice Abiola Soladoye, stands out as a testament for the commitment of the judicial system to protect the most vulnerable members of the society, children.
Justice Soladoye said her decision was rooted in the prosecution’s compelling case, which effectively demonstrated Ndieze’s culpability in the sexual assault by penetration, as defined by Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
She noted that during the trial, it became evident that the child could accurately identify Ndieze as the assailant who carried her during a church event and subjected her to the traumatic ordeal of sexual assault.
“This despicable act involved the insertion of his finger into the child’s vagina,” the Justice said.
The aftermath of this abhorrent act, the Justice noted, was heart-wrenching, as the child began to bleed uncontrollably when she returned home.
Alarmed by her condition, her mother immediately sought medical attention and that was when doctors confirmed the severity of the incident and advised reporting it to the authorities.
“Even at the police station, the child continued to bleed, and her blood-soaked underwear was collected as evidence. Further examination at the hospital revealed the extent of the assault, with clear signs of forcible penetration,” the judgment reads.
In her scathing condemnation of the defendant’s actions, Justice Soladoye labeled him a ‘pathological liar’ who attempted to deny his involvement in the crime on the innocent child, leaving her in severe pains.
She emphasized the gravity of his actions, branding him as “deeply shameful and unforgivable”.
Consequently, Ifeanyi Ndieze was found guilty of sexually assaulting the four-year-old child and expressly sentenced to life imprisonment.
Justice Soladoye further ordered that Ndieze’s name be added to the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
She took the opportunity to remind parents of the importance of safe-guarding their children, particularly in circumstances as this.
She also criticized the child’s mother for leaving her in the care of her elder brother, a six-year-old boy, highlighting the importance of sensitive and responsible supervision at all times.
The prosecution, which was led by Mrs. Olufunke Adegoke, also presented four witnesses and submitted four exhibits during the trial.
According to the Lagos State Government, which prosecuted the case, Ndieze committed the reprehensible act on October 29, 2020, at No 18, Salau Street, Surulere, Lagos State.
