In a recent legal proceeding, Justice Abiola Sholadoye of the Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court arraigned and subsequently sentenced Damilola Omojolowo, a 32-year-old street sweeper, to life imprisonment.
This verdict was reached after Omojolowo was found guilty of defiling a 14-year-old girl, an act that violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The charge against Omojolowo focused on the singular count of defilement, with the convict asserting that the underage victim was his girlfriend.
However, the prosecution presented evidence demonstrating that he engaged in unlawful sexual intercourse with the young girl. This compelling case led to the severe sentencing by the court.
The convict was arraigned and he pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him.
According to the prosecution counsel, A.R. Abolade, the convict committed the offence between June 2022 and July 2022 at No. 3 Church Street, Ajegunle, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.
The prosecutor also stated that the incident came to light on August 6, 2022, after the convict gave the victim a white tablet to ingest which made her start bleeding after which she was taken to the hospital.
The convict admitted to having unlawful intercourse with the victim, stating that she was his girlfriend.
He however denied giving her any tablet to ingest.
Justice Soladoye sentenced Imoh after the prosecutor read the facts of the case.
“It is right that a minor cannot consent to any sexual activity. Even if she did, it is of no use.
“He denied giving any tablet to the victim to ingest. It is important to stress that the only charge to this case is that of defilement of the child; so, the issue of the swallowing of the tablet by the child is of no importance.
“Since the offence of defilement is a strict liability offence with a mandatory sentence, the defendant, Damilola Omojolowo, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for defilement, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“The defendant, Damilola Omojolowo, male, is to have his name registered in the s*x offenders registry as maintained by Lagos State Government.”
