A Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos state, on Wednesday, March 15, sentenced one Stephen Francis to life imprisonment, for defiling an 11-year-old primary five pupil in his room.
It was gathered that the convict lured the minor to his room in the guise that his wife was calling her, then he proceeded to have unlawful sexual intercourse with her. The 11-year-old pupil was said to have reported the incident to her mother after which it was reported at the police station.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution team had sufficiently proved the three essential ingredients of defilement against the convict. According to her, the confessional statements of the convict were consistent with the evidence given by the survivor and her mother before the court.
The judge further held that slight penetration amounted to sexual intercourse and denial by the defendant was an afterthought.
He was found guilty of one count of defilement and sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge also added that the defendant should have his name registered in the sexual offense register as maintained by Lagos State.
