Sexual offence court: Man jailed for 60 years for defiling 12-year-old

Barely three weeks after the commissioning of a Sexual Offences
and Domestic Violence Court, Lagos yesterday delivered its first
judgement by sentencing a 58-year-old tailor, Cobina Iziejen to 60
years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl (name
withheld).

The Sexual offences Court commissioned on February 1st by the
Lagos State Chief judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, convicted the Iziejen
after he confessed to have slept with the victim(a primary five
pupil) on three different occasions.

Iziejen was arraigned alongside two others- Raimi Jimoh (38) and
Arowolo Kazeem Olorunwa (35) – on a three-count charge of
defilement of a child.

The accused committed the offence sometimes in 2017 around
Orimedu Town, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos

While delivering the judgement, Justice Sybil Nwaka said, “The
prosecutor, earlier in his address, said that issue of rape and
defilement offences is now rampant; a situation where our children
cannot freely move around freely especially in schools.

“I cannot agree more with the prosecuting counsel that
incidences of rape has taken a new astronomical dimension in our
society.

“The rate at which men in our society are prowling around,
looking for young underage children to defile sexually is
alarming.

“Children, especially the girl child, are no longer safe in the
custody of uncles, brothers even fathers, this is sad.

“Our children especially the girl child should be encouraged to
cry out and report any sexual assault against them as this is the
only way to correct this dire situation.

“We desire to make the city of Lagos and it’s environs safe for
our children.

“These children are leaders of tomorrow and as such not to be
ruined in their formative years

“The state of Lagos has zero tolerance for sexual offences.

“in view of the plea of guilt and the facts by the prosecutor,
Iziejen is hereby convicted accordingly.

“For these reasons, I hereby sentence you to 60-years
imprisonment with hard labour, this is the judgment of this
honourable court,” the judge said.

However, The Chief State prosecutor, B.T. Boye said that while
the accused, who is the 3rd defendant in the matter, pleaded
guilty, the other two denied the allegation.

According to Boye, “it was observed by the school authorities
that the child was fond of returning late from lunch break during
school hours.

” Upon enquiry, the child admitted that the 2nd defendant,
Olorunwa has been having sexual intercourse with her during break
time.

“The head teacher of the school probed further and thereafter
reported the matter at Akodo police station, Ibeju Lekki.

” it was at the station that the victim (Child X) also mentioned
the 1st and 3rd defendants as persons who have also defiled her
severally during break time.

“Also, Iziejen pleaded guilty on February 12, 2018 and Section
137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 states that any person
who has sexual intercourse with a child commits a felony and upon
conviction serves a punishment of imprisonment for life,” he
said.

Meanwhile, in his confessional statement, Iziejen had stated
that the girl often comes to his residence at Orimedu to sew
clothes.

He said: “On that fateful, she (victim) came to my house and
told me she wanted to sew a dress but didn’t have any fabric. I
discovered a funny character she exhibited but since I knew I had
anaemia, I advised myself not to have intimacy with any female.

“I couldn’t hold the urge anymore since she was acting in a way
I didn’t want people to notice her presence. I gave in and had
intercourse with her on three different occasions.

“But after the intercourse, on the first day, I gave her N1,500
because she told me she wanted to buy books at school.

Barely three weeks after the commissioning of a Sexual Offences
and Domestic Violence Court, Lagos yesterday delivered its first
judgement by sentencing a 58-year-old tailor, Cobina Iziejen to 60
years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl (name
withheld).

The Sexual offences Court commissioned on February 1st by the
Lagos State Chief judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, convicted the Iziejen
after he confessed to have slept with the victim(a primary five
pupil) on three different occasions.

Iziejen was arraigned alongside two others- Raimi Jimoh (38) and
Arowolo Kazeem Olorunwa (35) – on a three-count charge of
defilement of a child.

The accused committed the offence sometimes in 2017 around
Orimedu Town, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos

While delivering the judgement, Justice Sybil Nwaka said, “The
prosecutor, earlier in his address, said that issue of rape and
defilement offences is now rampant; a situation where our children
cannot freely move around freely especially in schools.

“I cannot agree more with the prosecuting counsel that
incidences of rape has taken a new astronomical dimension in our
society.

“The rate at which men in our society are prowling around,
looking for young underage children to defile sexually is
alarming.

“Children, especially the girl child, are no longer safe in the
custody of uncles, brothers even fathers, this is sad.

“Our children especially the girl child should be encouraged to
cry out and report any sexual assault against them as this is the
only way to correct this dire situation.

“We desire to make the city of Lagos and it’s environs safe for
our children.

“These children are leaders of tomorrow and as such not to be
ruined in their formative years

“The state of Lagos has zero tolerance for sexual offences.

“in view of the plea of guilt and the facts by the prosecutor,
Iziejen is hereby convicted accordingly.

“For these reasons, I hereby sentence you to 60-years
imprisonment with hard labour, this is the judgment of this
honourable court,” the judge said.

However, The Chief State prosecutor, B.T. Boye said that while
the accused, who is the 3rd defendant in the matter, pleaded
guilty, the other two denied the allegation.

According to Boye, “it was observed by the school authorities
that the child was fond of returning late from lunch break during
school hours.

” Upon enquiry, the child admitted that the 2nd defendant,
Olorunwa has been having sexual intercourse with her during break
time.

“The head teacher of the school probed further and thereafter
reported the matter at Akodo police station, Ibeju Lekki.

” it was at the station that the victim (Child X) also mentioned
the 1st and 3rd defendants as persons who have also defiled her
severally during break time.

“Also, Iziejen pleaded guilty on February 12, 2018 and Section
137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 states that any person
who has sexual intercourse with a child commits a felony and upon
conviction serves a punishment of imprisonment for life,” he
said.

Meanwhile, in his confessional statement, Iziejen had stated
that the girl often comes to his residence at Orimedu to sew
clothes.

He said: “On that fateful, she (victim) came to my house and
told me she wanted to sew a dress but didn’t have any fabric. I
discovered a funny character she exhibited but since I knew I had
anaemia, I advised myself not to have intimacy with any female.

“I couldn’t hold the urge anymore since she was acting in a way
I didn’t want people to notice her presence. I gave in and had
intercourse with her on three different occasions.

“But after the intercourse, on the first day, I gave her N1,500
because she told me she wanted to buy books at school.