A Lagos State High Court sitting at the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has sentenced a man, Victor Dickson, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-month-old baby.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Rahman Oshodi ruled that the prosecution successfully proved the charge of sexual assault by penetration beyond reasonable doubt.
The court held that the circumstantial evidence presented was compelling and clearly established the defendant’s guilt.
Justice Oshodi noted inconsistencies in the convict’s statements, describing his testimony as lacking credibility.
According to the judge, Dickson contradicted himself by initially admitting in his police statement that he carried the child but denied the act, while later denying any contact with the infant during his court testimony.
He also accused the child’s mother of fabricating the allegation, a claim the court found unconvincing.
The court emphasized the vulnerability of the victim, describing the six-month-old as defenceless and unable to call for help.
Testimony presented during the trial revealed that the convict took the baby from where she was left, carried her into his room, and committed the offence.
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Justice Oshodi further stated that the convict showed no remorse and instead attempted to shift blame onto the child’s mother.
“You betrayed the trust reposed in you,” the judge said, adding that the child’s cries underscored the gravity of the offence.
Following the conviction, the court ordered that Dickson be registered as a sex offender in line with Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021. He is to serve his sentence in a maximum-security custodial facility.
Dickson was initially arraigned on June 20, 2022, after pleading not guilty to the charge filed by the Lagos State Government.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by state counsel Inumidun Solarin, presented three witnesses, including the child’s parents and the investigating police officer.
The offence, which occurred on October 17, 2021, in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos, was said to contravene Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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