A 23-year-old teacher, John Osifo, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the defilement of his eight-year-old student.
The decision was handed down by Justice Ramon Oshodi at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday.
Osifo was initially arraigned on January 31, 2022, facing a single count of defilement, to which he pleaded not guilty.
According to the charge sheet, Osifo committed the heinous act between May 2020 and June 2021 at a residence in Jejelaye and at the Marifod Private School in Lagos.
The specifics of the charge highlighted the gravity of the crime: “Osifo John… did defile one (name withheld) aged eight years by having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.”
The prosecution presented a compelling case, calling three witnesses, including the victim’s mother, the victim herself, and Dr. Mary Adenike Osuntoye, a medical professional who provided crucial evidence regarding the abuse. In her harrowing testimony, the young girl recounted multiple instances of sexual abuse, detailing how Osifo manipulated situations to isolate her. She described how during the COVID-19 lockdown, he would instruct her brother to go outside for homework before following her to get water. “He would push her onto a chair in the parlour, remove her clothes, and insert ‘his wee wee in her wee wee,’” she testified, pointing to her private parts.
The victim vividly recalled another incident occurring during school hours, stating that “during break time between 11:00 and 11:30 am, the defendant would ask her to meet him behind the toilet where he would lay her on the grass and have intercourse with her.” She described the aftermath, including the pain and the bloodshed, and how Osifo would threaten her to remain silent about the abuse.
The victim’s mother also testified about her daughter’s torn underwear, revealing her daughter’s initial resistance to disclose the abuse, stating, “Mummy, if I tell you, will you beat me?” This poignant moment highlighted the fear and confusion experienced by the young girl.
Dr. Osuntoye corroborated the abuse allegations with her medical findings, which included signs consistent with sexual assault such as “whitening discharge, absent hymen, healed bruises, and inflammation in the prosecutrix genitalia.”
In his ruling, Justice Ramon Oshodi emphasized that the prosecution had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt, stating, “The prosecution counsel has been able to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutor’s testimony is supported, not only by medical evidence and her mother’s prompt reporting but also inadvertently corroborated by the defence witness’s admissions about the defendant’s unsupervised access.”
He found Osifo guilty of defilement and expressed that the nature of the crime warranted severe punishment. “You stand convicted of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. This section prescribes life imprisonment for anyone who has sexual intercourse with a child. The gravity of this offence cannot be overstated,” he asserted.
Justice Oshodi condemned Osifo’s actions, noting the betrayal of trust inherent in his role as a teacher. “You systematically manipulated a child, threatening her into silence and continued to abuse her over an extended period,” he stated.
As Osifo was sentenced to life imprisonment, Justice Oshodi also mandated that he be registered as a sex offender, reinforcing the message that society will not tolerate child abuse or molestation. “The law recognizes society’s need to protect its most vulnerable members,” he concluded.
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