An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday, sentenced a teacher, John Osifo, to life imprisonment for defiling an eight-year-old pupil.

Delivering judgement, Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against Mr Osifo beyond every reasonable doubt.

Mr Oshodi noted that the convict bridged the trust that was entrusted into his hands by defiling the survivor.

According to him, evidence of the survivor was corroborated by her mother’s evidence and medical examination revealed the absence of a hymen.

He said that the convict exploited the vulnerability of the child under his care to defile her.

The judge said: “John Osifo, the gravity of your offence cannot be overstated.

“As a teacher, you are in a position of trust that you bridged.

“You did not only exploit the vulnerability of an eight-year-old child under your care, you also took advantage of the Covid-19 lockdown.

“Instead of showing remorse, you chose to fabricate a lie and false accusations alleging that the mother of the survivor tried to seduce you.”

The court thereafter sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered that his name be registered in the sexual offences register of Lagos State.

The prosecution, led by Babajide Boye, called three witnesses: the survivor, the survivor’s mother and a medical doctor, while the defence called eight witnesses during the trial.

The prosecution had told the court that the convict committed the offence sometime between May 2020 and June 2021 on Vissol Street, Jejelaye, in Ajangbadi and Marifod Private School, Ajangbadi, Lagos.

The prosecution submitted that the convict, who also served as a home lesson teacher for the minor during COVID-19, had unlawful sexual intercourse with her.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

(NAN)