Dare Babalola
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday, January 19, convicted and sentenced a man identified as Olumuyiwa Adjoto to double life imprisonment for defiling his wife’s six-year-old niece.
Adjoto was found guilty on two of three counts brought against him for sexually abusing the child at Erubami House along Primary School Road in Mowo, Badagry, Lagos State, on April 22, 2022. The court discharged him on a third count of indecent treatment of a child.
The judge called the offences “grave”, highlighting the lasting physical and emotional harm done to the child. Adjoto must also register as a sex offender under Lagos State law.
During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from the victim, her mother, a medical officer, and a police investigator, all of which helped the court conclude that the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The sentencing reflects Nigeria’s intensified efforts to tackle child sexual abuse and defilement.
The Nigerian Senate had earlier proposed legislation mandating life imprisonment for defilement of minors, part of broader initiatives to strengthen protections for children.
Previous high-profile convictions across Lagos and other states reinforce the judiciary’s strict position on sexual crimes against minors.
Child rights advocates have welcomed the verdict but stress the need for expanded support systems for victims, including counseling and medical care, to address the trauma and deter future offences.
