A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sentenced David Jackson, a 72-year-old security guard, to life imprisonment on Monday for defiling a 7-year-old girl.
According to Channelstv, Justice Abiola Soladoye sentenced Jackson after concluding that the prosecution had successfully proven the three essential elements of defilement. The judgment detailed that the victim was seven years old at the time of the incident and was eight when she testified in court, identifying Jackson as a gateman on her street.
The prosecuting counsel, Ms. Abimbola Abolade, called three witnesses, while Jackson testified as the sole witness for the defense. The prosecutor stated that Jackson committed the offense on May 16, 2022, on Oyedele Close, Ojodu, Berger in Lagos.
Justice Soladoye recounted, “The facts of the case showed that the survivor’s brother sent her on an errand. When she passed by and greeted Jackson, he dragged her inside his room. When she screamed, he covered her mouth with a handkerchief.”
She continued, “The survivor’s testimony was clear, consistent, and coherent under cross-examination. The second prosecution witness, a teacher, testified that a classmate of the survivor reported she was not feeling well and was walking awkwardly. Upon inquiry, the teacher discovered the survivor was in pain and had been sexually assaulted.”
Justice Soladoye noted that the teacher reported the incident after the survivor’s parents failed to respond, leading to the case being referred to the Mirabel Medical Centre in Ikeja. The medical report was subsequently forwarded to the police. The court found the testimony of the survivor’s father credible and corroborated by the other witnesses.
The judge rejected Jackson’s attempts to deny the charge, stating, “The survivor’s father identified Jackson as a security guard in their neighborhood and confirmed he was at the hospital with his wife during the incident. The prosecution’s witnesses were credible, convincing, and compelling, proving the case against the defendant.”
Justice Soladoye concluded, “The survivor was a minor, and there was no consent as she was a child. The defendant is found guilty as charged for the defilement of a 7-year-old child, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, and is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.” Additionally, she ordered that Jackson’s name be registered in the Lagos State Government’s Sexual Offences Register.