society
64-year-old man bags life jail for defiling neighbour’s daughter
64-year-old man bags life jail for defiling neighbour’s daughter
The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, presided over by Justice Ramon Oshodi, on Tuesday, sentenced 64-year-old Lateef Durojaiye to life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the defendant was initially arraigned on December 6, 2019, at the Magistrate Court, Ikorodu, on a one-count charge of defilement and was later arraigned before the High Court on August 5, 2021, on the same charge.
The case was later struck out on November 29, 2021, for want of diligent prosecution and then relisted on May 22, 2022 when the defendant was re-arraigned, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him.
Following an amended charge by the prosecution on January 24, 2024, the defendant was re-arraigned on April 16, 2024, on a count of defilement.
His charge read, “Statement of offence, defilement of a child contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law, Chapter 617, Volume 3 of Laws of Lagos, 2015. Particulars of offence: Lateef Durojaiye, on or about November 30, 2019, at about 3 pm at no, 7 Anibaba Andrew Street, Ikorodu Lagos, in Ikeja Judicial Division, did defile the prosecutrix, aged 11 years old, by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.”
The prosecution counsel, B. T Boye, I. D. Solarin and B. E. Okeowo, called five witnesses, the prosecutrix’s mother, the prosecutrix herself, the Investigative Police Officer, Inspector Adeoye Fumilayo, Sherifat Bakare, and Dr Emmanuel Effiong.
The prosecution disclosed that on November 30, 2019, while the prosecutrix’s mother was away purchasing goods, the defendant who was her tenant and neighbour, visited her residence and had sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix.
According to the prosecution case, the crime was discovered five days later after the the prosecutrix was observed limping, which led to a medical examination that revealed injuries consistent with forceful penetration as testified by the medical doctor.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the defence’s first witness, the defendant, claimed he was on Lagos Island with his brother on the day of the alleged incident and claimed that the allegations were fabricated by his landlord, who he said he had a dispute with.
The prosecution stated that a series of incidents presented established a fact of escalating sexual misconduct. According to their case, the first incident involved the defendant showing the prosecutrix pornographic content and asking her if she could perform the act.
On that day, he came to our house and gave me a phone and put the phone on video, and what was showing was blue film. He asked me if I could do what was in the video. My younger brother heard and asked what the defendant wanted me to do. The defendant then dragged the phone from me and I now stood up. My brother asked what happened and I told him, then my brother went to report to our neighbours who informed our mother, who warned the defendant not to come to our house again,” he stated.
The prosecution further disclosed that the second and more serious incident happened when the defendant defiled the prosecutrix. According to the prosecutrix, the defendant defiled her and threatened to kill her if she reported to her mother.
“On 30th November 2019, the defendant came to buy ggarri, and the neighbour my brother earlier reported to was the one who gave him a bowl and spoon to drink the garri. On that day, I came in and shut the door but our net was torn, so I shut the door and entered inside. I was sleeping and had the sense that someone was pulling off my underwear. By the time I opened my eyes, he had taken off his trousers and brought out his penis. When I shouted, he used a pillow to cover my mouth and inserted his penis into my vagina. When I threatened him that I would report, he said if I reported to my mother, he was going to kill me”, she said.
The prosecutrix’s mother also alleged that the defendant and his brothers came to plead with her to forget the case.
“On the second day, they asked us to come back around 10 am. So, when it got to 8:30 am, the defendant’s elder brother and younger brother came to meet me at home. They asked me to forget the matter, and that they would give me N300,000. I told them that I did not need their N300,000 and I told him, “Baba, you too, you have your female child, why did you not bring your daughter let my father sleep with her because you cannot accept what you are telling me to accept.’”
During his judgement, Justice Ramon Oshodi stated that the prosecution had established the case of defilement against the defendant by the standard required of Section 139 (1) of the Evidence Act and found the defendant guilty of defilement.
“I therefore find the defendant guilty of defilement and convict him under Section 137 of the Criminal Law.”
The prosecution counsel, BT Boye, then appreciated the witnesses for coming out and encouraged the witnesses to show up for justice to prevail.
“I want to commend the witnesses in this case for coming out and want to encourage witnesses in all other cases to always come out. It is by coming out that justice is assured and secured for the complainant and the defendant. We humbly apply that the name of this convict be entered into the sexual offenders register.”
In his sentencing, Justice Ramon condemned the defendant’s exploitation of a child, emphasising the severe breach of trust due to familiarity with the family. He stressed the gravity of abusing a position of trust, particularly given the family’s kindness towards the defendant and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
“Lateef Durojaiye, having found you guilty of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, I am bound to hold the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Nonetheless, I consider it essential to know the particular circumstances of this case. The victim was a child, you abused a position of trust with the victim and her family; this was premeditated as evidenced by your earlier conduct of showing pornographic material to the victim, the psychological impact on the child would be long-lasting.
“You also tried to evade responsibility by fabricating false defences, most significantly, you breached a position of trust; you were known to the family and had received kindness from them.
“The victim endured not only physical trauma but also a psychological burden for keeping the crime under threat, followed by the burden of testifying in court, that when adults prey on vulnerable children particularly those known to them, such an act must face the full force of the law.”
“Therefore, I sentence you to life imprisonment, Furthermore, under Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law 2021, you shall be registered as a sex offender. You shall be taken to the Medium Security Custodial Centre,” he said.
Alleged Manipulation of Defilement Case Sparks Call for Review of Legal Advice in Lagos
By Ifeoma Ikem
A legal controversy has emerged in Lagos following a petition seeking a review of a legal advice issued in a case involving two female teachers accused of negligence in a child injury incident at a nursery school in Ikorodu.
The petition, submitted by Crown Cannan Attorneys, urges the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reconsider the legal advice issued on September 16, 2022, in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba and Rukayat Lawal.
Addressed to the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the application argues that the legal advice may have been influenced by what the petition describes as a “deliberate manipulation of facts.”
According to counsel representing the defendants, the allegations stem from an incident that allegedly occurred on October 26, 2021, at Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School located in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The defendants, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, 26, and Rukayat Lawal, 24, were reportedly the class teacher and assistant class teacher respectively in charge of a Nursery One class where the incident occurred.
Court documents indicate that a three-year-old pupil, identified as Victim A, was reportedly injured after another pupil allegedly pierced a pencil into her private part during school hours.
The prosecution claims the incident occurred due to the failure of the teachers to exercise adequate care and supervision over the children under their custody.
Based on this allegation, the two educators were charged with negligence under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which addresses acts that may cause harm through lack of proper care.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court No. 2 in Ikeja on April 19, 2022, where they faced a one-count charge relating to the incident.
During the investigation conducted at the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, several civil society groups reportedly monitored the proceedings.
Among them were representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and other non-governmental organizations.
These groups reportedly raised concerns about what they described as a growing tendency to weaponise allegations of child abuse in ways that could unfairly damage reputations and careers.
In its petition, the defence team argued that the case deserves a fresh review to ensure that justice is served based on verified facts rather than assumptions or public pressure.
They urged the Ministry of Justice to carefully reassess the legal advice and the circumstances surrounding the investigation to determine whether the prosecution should proceed as currently framed.
Legal observers say the outcome of the requested review could determine the next stage of the case and may also highlight broader concerns about investigative procedures and child protection cases within the justice system.
Reacting to a viral social media post by Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who claimed she might be jailed for defilement, the head teacher of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Edaolaropin Toyin, provided the school’s account of events.
According to her, the pupil identified as Victim A was enrolled in the Nursery One class on September 20, 2021, which had about 15 pupils.
She explained that on October 26, 2021, the pupil was transported home on the school bus after closing hours and handed over to her father around 4:30 p.m.
“Later that night, the pupil’s mother allegedly contacted the head teacher, claiming her daughter cried while bathing and alleged that a male classmate, Victim B, had inserted a pencil into her private part during school hours,” she said.
The school, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that no such incident occurred while the child was in its custody.
“The following morning, the teacher visited the pupil’s home, where the father reportedly denied the mother’s account of the incident,” Toyin added.
She said the situation escalated later that day when the child’s parents arrived at the school with police officers from Imota Police Station demanding that the alleged male classmate be produced.
The head teacher further stated that the school management had supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
“Since the incident happened, the school management has never stopped supporting Tobiloba’s welfare until last year when she sent a WhatsApp message saying she was no longer interested in the court matter, claiming she had relocated to Ibadan,” she said.
She described the claims currently circulating on social media as “defamatory narratives.”
*GEN CG MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE MOURNS FALLEN HEROES AND URGES UNITY IN SECURITY SUPPORT
The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) expresses its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Patron of the Initiative, and the families of the fallen heroes who courageously lost their lives in a recent attack by ISWAP in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Dalori in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. Among the tragic losses were three senior military commanders: Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.
The GCGMSI implores the public to continue supporting our security agencies, emphasizing that the safety and security of our nation is a collective responsibility. Every day, our security forces pay the ultimate price to safeguard our country. We urge the public to remain supportive, pray for their success, and refrain from politicizing the security challenges we face.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, which has been made available to the press. The statement highlights the initiative’s profound concern for the losses sustained by our security personnel and reflects on the broader security situation in Nigeria.
In his unwavering commitment to addressing the insecurity plaguing our nation, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, has consistently engaged in urgent meetings with service chiefs, reinforcing strategic plans to combat threats and enhance national security. His leadership and decisive actions demonstrate a dedication to restoring peace and stability across our regions, ensuring a safer environment for all Nigerians.
society
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
By Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani
In these challenging times, it is essential for all Nigerians to rally behind our leaders, particularly His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the Minister of Defence. The security of our nation is not a matter to be taken lightly or politicized. Gen. Musa, recognized for his unwavering dedication and sacrifice, has served our country commendably throughout his life.
Following the recent reshuffle of service chiefs by President Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu GCFR, which resulted in Gen. Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff, many voiced their concerns. Yet, upon his appointment as Minister of Defence, there was a renewed sense of hope among the populace. Gen. Musa has embraced his role with an unwavering commitment, often sacrificing his rest to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.
While it is undeniable that Nigeria faces security challenges, we must approach these issues with unity rather than division. It is crucial to recognize that those who politicize our national security are often those who have not contributed positively to the success of our security agencies. Instead of spreading negativity, we should support Gen. Musa in his mission to restore peace and stability.
To achieve our collective goal of a secure Nigeria, we must provide Gen. Musa with the trust he deserves. His vision and determination, paired with our support and prayers, can pave the way to overcoming the challenges we face. It’s time for every Nigerian to put aside political differences and work together for the common good. Let us have faith in our leaders and trust in Gen. Musa’s ability to steer our nation towards safety and security.
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