Court Jails Printing Press Worker For Raping Neighbour’s Daughter
By Felix Kuyinu
A court ruling has seen a press-worker, Emmanuel Lakehinde, sentenced to jail for raping a minor and causing her defilement.
Lakehinde was arraigned at the Special Offences and Domestic Court in Ikeja where the Presiding Judge, Rahman Oshodi, found him culpable of the offence and thereafter sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The prosecution, led by Babajide Boye, submitted that the lawbreaker alongside others at large, including one Sesan Oluwole, who jumped bail, raped the teenager on December 12, 2013 at Sanusi Street, Shomolu, thereby, causing harm to the victim and also contravening laws of Lagos State.
Boye, who relayed that the offence contravene the provisions of Sections 137 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, called three witnesses, the survivor, her grandfather and a medical practitioner, who all gave testimonies after which the prosecution tendered exhibits which were admitted by the court.
While delivering his judgement, Oshodi said that he was satisfied with the prosecution submission ,adding that it proved the case beyond doubt that the offender truly committed the offence.
He said, ”The charge of defilement, which is punishable with life imprisonment, reflects the gravity with which the law views the sexual violation of children.
”They are amongst the most vulnerable in the society and are entitled to protection from predatory conduct of adults. But you, Lakehinde breached the trust that should have existed between you and the victim.
”You assaulted her when she was 11 years old. Her family rejected your plea bargain, reasonably so, because your actions have caused irreparable harm to her and the trauma resulting from your conduct will stay with her for the rest of her life.
”This court will pass a judgement on you to deter others from indulging in this heinous act. With that, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment on the act of defilement and 10 years in prison on the count of conspiracy.”
The judge also ordered that the convict’s name be registered into the Sex Offenders Register in line with the provisions of Sections 33 and 38 of the state’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, Law, 2021.
