A Lagos court has sentenced Olumuyiwa Adjoto to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually abusing his wife’s six-year-old niece, a crime the judge described as a gross betrayal of trust and an assault on the dignity of a child.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court delivered the judgment on Monday, January 19, following a full trial instituted by the Lagos State Government.
Adjoto was arraigned on multiple counts, including defilement and sexual assault of a minor. The court heard that the offences occurred in April 2022 at Mowo, Badagry, when the child was left in his care while her aunt went to the market.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by State Counsel Bukola Okeowo, called four witnesses, including the child, her mother, a medical practitioner, and an investigating police officer. Adjoto testified in his defence but denied the allegations.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He found Adjoto guilty on two counts but struck out a third charge relating to indecent treatment of a child.
The judge noted that medical and testimonial evidence presented before the court showed that the abuse had caused severe physical and emotional harm to the child, with effects that could linger long into adulthood.
According to expert testimony, the trauma suffered by the survivor could lead to long-term psychological challenges, including anxiety, depression, difficulty trusting others, and impaired social development.
Describing the crime as “heinous and unforgivable,” Justice Oshodi sentenced Adjoto to life imprisonment on each of the two counts, ordering that the sentences run concurrently.
The court also directed that the convict’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register, in line with the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law of 2021.
“The punishment imposed reflects society’s intolerance for sexual violence against children,” the judge said, adding that the law must serve both as justice for victims and a deterrent to others.
