Lagos Court Sentences 72-Year-Old Security Guard to Life Imprisonment for Defiling 7-Year-Old Girl
In a landmark judgment on Monday, the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sentenced David Jackson, a 72-year-old security guard, to life imprisonment for the defilement of a 7-year-old neighbor’s daughter. Justice Abiola Soladoye delivered the ruling, affirming that the prosecution successfully established all elements of the offence.
The incident, which occurred on May 16, 2022, at Oyedele Close, Ojodu, Berger in Lagos, saw Jackson drag the young girl into a room after she greeted him while running an errand. Despite her cries for help, he used a handkerchief to stifle her screams.
During the trial, the survivor, who was eight years old at the time of testifying, positively identified Jackson as the perpetrator. Supporting her testimony, a teacher from her school corroborated that the girl complained of physical discomfort and unusual walking, prompting an investigation that confirmed sexual assault.
The court highlighted the credibility of the survivor’s father, who identified Jackson as a local security guard and affirmed the incident occurred while he was away attending to his sick wife. Medical evidence from Mirabel Medical Centre further substantiated the assault, leading to the conviction under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Justice Soladoye emphasized the severity of the crime and the vulnerability of the victim, concluding that Jackson’s actions constituted defilement as the survivor was incapable of giving consent due to her age. The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered his registration in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
This case underscores the judiciary’s commitment to protecting minors from sexual violence and ensuring perpetrators face stringent legal consequences under Nigerian law.
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