Justice Rahman Oshodi has sentenced Chukwukemeka Ejike, a trader and resident of Lagos, to 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (Lagos DSVA) announced Ejike’s sentence on Tuesday, nearly seven years after he committed the crime.

“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 DVCA said on X.

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“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.”

The DVCA further stated that the trader was alleged to have committed the sexual offence after he attempted to put his penis in the girl’s vagina, which breached Section 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

“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 DVCA stated.

“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.”

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Justice Oshodi stated that while he was satisfied with the essential elements of Ejike’s attempt to rape the minor, he would sentence him to 14 years in prison, and his name should also be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

“I have considered the plea bargain that you signed and the allocutus from your counsel,” the judge said.

“I hereby sentence you to 14 years imprisonment, which will start from the day of your remand.”