Driver sentenced to 25 years for defiling neighbour’s sister

A Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere, on Monday sentenced 58-year-old driver, Emmanuel Egejuru, to 25 years imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s 11-year-old sister.

The convict was arraigned three years ago for defiling a minor, an offence he denied committing and was granted bail.

Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya, who handed down the verdict, found Egejuru guilty of the offence, which contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Ogunsanya held that the Lagos State prosecution team, led by Mr Adebayo Haroun, proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt.

She said that the convict’s confessional statement collaborated the testimony of the witness in the suit.

Egejuru, who resides at Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos, was arraigned on May 7, 2015, on a count charge of defilement.

According to the prosecution, Egejuru committed the offence between November 2011 and Feb. 22, 2012, at his residence.

During the trial, a witness, Mrs Grace Ubom, who witnessed the incident, narrated how the convict defiled the girl.

She said she saw when the victim was defiled inside the toilet, adding that the victim entered into the toilet, followed by Egejuru.

“The girl later came out crying and walking awkwardly, she said.

Ubom said that the victim was defiled on three occasions, adding that the convict on the third occasion warned her not to inform anyone of the incident.

The defendant did not enter any defence.

The defendant had on April 10, entered a no-case submission, but it was dismissed and the court ordered him to open his defence.

The convict refused to enter any defence, but however, relied on the prosecution’s evidence.