The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court handed down a life sentence to 27-year-old cleaner Saviour Udoh for the sexual assault of a five-year-old girl on church premises.
Justice Ramon Oshodi, in his ruling, stated that the prosecution had proven the offence of defilement against Udoh beyond a reasonable doubt.
He described Udoh’s actions as reprehensible and deserving of the harshest punishment under the law.
Udoh was arraigned on February 5, 2020, facing a charge of sexual assault by penetration brought against him by the state.
He pleaded not guilty. According to prosecution counsel I.D. Solarin, Udoh’s offence violated Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The court was informed that the incident took place on December 12, 2018, at a well-known Pentecostal church in Ikeja, Lagos.
Udoh, employed as a cleaner at the church, took advantage of a sleeping child in the children’s department and sexually assaulted her.
The victim’s mother promptly reported the crime, leading to Udoh’s arrest.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi emphasized the severity of the crime, taking into account the evidence presented during the trial.
This included the convict’s confessional statement, testimonies from the victim and her mother, the investigating police officer, and medical evidence.
“The crime committed is a grave one, involving the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable child,”
he stated.
Justice Oshodi highlighted the lasting impact of the crime on the victim, noting that the child still suffers from its effects.
“The victim’s mother testified that she has been taking her daughter to the hospital for three years since the incident and that the child still experiences discharges. This underscores the long-lasting physical and emotional trauma inflicted on the child,”
he said.
The judge condemned Udoh for breaching the trust placed in him by the victim and her mother.
He reiterated that sexual assault by penetration is a serious offence that mandates life imprisonment under Section 261 of the Criminal Law.
While acknowledging Udoh’s plea for mercy and his lack of prior convictions, Justice Oshodi concluded that the aggravating factors of the case outweighed any mitigating circumstances.
Udoh was convicted of the one-count charge of sexual assault by penetration and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The court also ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
“Therefore, having found you guilty of sexual assault by penetration, I now sentence you to imprisonment for life as mandated by Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State. You will serve this sentence in the maximum security custodial centre or wherever the Nigerian Correctional Service may direct you. And your name will be added to the register of sex offenders.”
