An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a 45-year-old man, Paul Ndedigwe, to double life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s two children, aged six and seven.
The convict was handed down the sentence by Justice Abiola Soladoye on January 30, 2024, who, after a careful consideration of the evidence presented, found the defendant guilty on two out of the three-count charges of defilement and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor contravening Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Soladoye, however, discharged and acquitted Ndedigwe on count three which also bordered on defilement.
The court, describing Ndedigwe as rough, irresponsible and destiny-destroyer, held that the alleged survivor failed to show up in court to give evidence.
According to her, the convict who was a neighbour to the minors, had sexual intercourse with them at the same time and in the presence of each other.
She said, “When the survivors began to cry, he turned up the volume of his television set.
“The evidence of prosecution witnesses was corroborated, truthful and unshaken.
“The defendant is hereby found guilty on count one and sentenced to life imprisonment.
“He is also found guilty on count two and sentenced to life imprisonment.”
The judge ordered that the sentencing should run concurrently and the convict’s name put in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
Report says that Ndedigwe lured the victims who were in kindergarten class and ages six and seven respectively at that time into his room and had unlawful sexual intercourse with them.
It was gathered that he engaged in the indecent act by inserting his finger in the victims’ private parts, and having carnal knowledge of the victims individually while the other watched.
When he was arraigned on February 14, 2023, he pleaded not guilty to the three-count charges of defilement of minors ages six and seven respectively.
Lagos State counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke, presented three witnesses during trial while the convict testified solely for defence.
Adegoke submitted that the convict committed the offence on Nov. 19, 2021, on Ifelodun Street, Amukoko, Lagos State.