Court remands man for alleged murder
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, sentenced a 50-year-old trader, Chukuwemeka Ejike, to 14 years imprisonment for attempted sexual assault of a nine-year-old girl.
The judge sentenced Ejike after he pleaded guilty as charged by the state government.
The defendant was initially arraigned sometime in June 2017 on a two-count charge bordering on defilement.
Ejike was alleged to have committed the offence in May 2017 at No 1, Samson Street, Oke Odo, Agege, Lagos, when he attempted to put his penis in the vagina of the girl.
The prosecution said his offence contravened the provision of Section 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
He had initially pleaded not guilty and the prosecution called four witnesses, which included the Investigation Police Officer, the father of the survivor, a medical doctor, and the survivor, who testified against the defendant.
The defendant, however, opted for a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to an amended charge, dated January 4,2024.
Justice Oshodi described the offence as a terrible thing.
Oshodi held that he was satisfied that the convict understood the nature of the plea bargain and the gravity of the charge against him.
The judge said besides the evidence led by the prosecution, he was satisfied that the essential elements of attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration had been established.
“I have considered the plea bargain that you signed and the allocutus from your counsel. I hereby sentence you to 14 years imprisonment which will start from the day of your remand,” the judge held.
Oshodi also ordered that the name of the convict be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
Before sentencing, the defendant’s counsel, Chinwe Owojori, in her allocutus, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
She told the court that the convict had turned a new leaf and had not wasted the time of the court.
MEANWHILE, a Lagos High Court, Ikeja has remanded one Monday Odeh in a correctional facility for the alleged murder of a 54-year-old man, Abdulahi Yinusa.
Justice Adenike Coker remanded Odeh yesterday, after he was arraigned on a one-count murder charge brought against him by the Lagos State government.
The prosecuting counsel, Titi Adeegbe, informed the court that Odeh unlawfully murdered Yinusa on April 4, 2019, in the Magodo area of the state, by hitting Yinusa’s head on the floor, thereby causing his death.
She said his offence contravened the provision of Section 223 of the Criminal Law, Cap C. 17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecuting counsel prayed for a trial date, following the defendant’s plea of not guilty.
The defendant was represented by Onikepo Braithwaite during the proceedings.
The judge subsequently adjourned till February 12 for trial.
