In Ikeja, the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has handed down a life sentence to 24-year-old baker, Adesina Farouk, for sexually assaulting his 15-year-old neighbor. Judge Rahman Oshodi, in a ruling on Monday, found Farouk guilty of defilement, citing compelling evidence presented by the prosecution.

Oshodi emphasized the lack of consent in the survivor’s encounter, noting the forcible nature of the act, which resulted in physical harm and distress. Despite Farouk’s attempts to deceive the court by claiming the survivor was older and they were in a relationship, evidence, including medical reports, indicated otherwise.

The court dismissed Farouk’s assertion of consensual sex, highlighting the severity of the offense and its detrimental impact on the victim’s well-being. Oshodi emphasized the breach of trust and the lasting trauma inflicted on the victim and her family, sentencing Farouk to life imprisonment and ordering his inclusion in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

Oshodi stressed the necessity of deterring such egregious acts, rejecting pleas for leniency and emphasizing the gravity of Farouk’s crime. The prosecution echoed these sentiments, urging the court to impose the full extent of the law on Farouk to serve as a warning to others. Additionally, the court emphasized the importance of registering Farouk as a sexual offender, signaling the seriousness of his crime and the imperative of protecting society’s most vulnerable members.