Lagos – Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a Lagos School driver, Michael Mowete to life imprisonment for defiling a three-year-old pupil.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Rahman Oshodi stated that the prosecution effectively proved its case against Mowete on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
The judge highlighted that the prosecution presented compelling direct evidence, including the victim’s testimony detailing the assault.
Oshodi dismissed Mowete’s claim of a romantic relationship with the victim’s mother, citing lack of evidence.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a defence witness testified that Mowete was consistently present on the bus during drop-offs at the victim’s mother’s shop.
The judge highlighted that the prosecution presented compelling direct evidence, including the victim’s testimony detailing the assault.
This testimony were corroborated by the victim’s mother and medical evidence, supported by circumstantial evidence from the Investigating Police Officer.
According to Oshodi, medical examinations revealed recent signs of blunt force penetration.
The Judge also noted that Mowete’s assertion of a call log proving a relationship with the victim’s mother lacked substantiation.
“Despite Mowete’s defence arguing the victim was coached, the court found no basis for this claim.
Oshodi emphasized that even if a relationship between Mowete and the victim’s mother existed, it did not absolve him of the charge of defilement.
The judge consequently sentenced Mowete to life imprisonment. He also ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
“Michael Mowete, this court has found you guilty of the charge of defilement. You have defiled a child, barely three years of age. And you attempted to traumatize her family by fabricating that you had an amorous relationship with her mother.
“The mother of the child told this court that urine comes out of her daughter’s vagina every 15 to 30 minutes. And this shows how much damage you have done to the child.
“You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. And you shall serve the remainder of your term in the Maximum Correctional Centre,” Oshodi stated.
In the presentation of the cases, the prosecution, Babajide Boye called four witnesses. And also the defence counsel called four witnesses.
source: Sahara Reporters
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