Man Bags Life Imprisonment For Defiling 8-Year-Old
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced one Seydou Garuba (a.k.a Mafara) to life imprisonment defiling neighbor 8-years-old.
Garuba was arraigned on October 25, 2022, on two counts bordering on defilement and sexual assault by penetration of an eight-year-old cold girl.
Justice Oshodi said that prosecutors were unable to prove the second count of sexual penetration, and he discharged and acquitted the defendant.
“Seydou Garuba, you have been convicted of defining an eight-year-old girl, this is one of the most serious offence in the criminal law and life imprisonment is mandatory for it
You abused your position as a trusted neighbourhood shopkeeper and sexually assaulted the victim; I sentenced you to life imprisonment, and your name should be registered in the sex offender register,” He said.
While delivering the judgement in this case, the judge informed the court that the prosecuting counsel, Olufumilayo Aluko, called three witnesses, including the survivor, the survivor’s cousin, and an IPO.
The defence called three witnesses: the defendant’s wife, a neighbour, and himself.
Justice Oshodi said that the defendant Seydou Garuba, a.k.a. Marafa, owns a provision store at the front of his compound, and the survivor and her family are regular customers of the defendant.
In her evidence, the survivor told the court that she went to purchase half a bag of pure water from the defendant’s shop.
“On October 16, 2022, I asked Marafa how much Is pure water and Marafa said it was N70, I said no, my grandma said it was N60, I told Marafa to take your pure water and give me back my money, I was going, he called me and hit my head, he said let me follow him, and I followed him inside his house
“ he removed my pant and remove his nika and put his bum bum in my bum bum, when he put it inside I shouted he use black cloth and cover my mouth and Shen he finished he said if I tell anybody he will kill me”
PW2 corroborated in her evidence when she testified that on October 19,2022
“I met her, the survivor sleeping with her legs open. I saw a brown stain on her pants. I woke her up and asked her what that stain was. I saw blood and yellowish stuff coming out,” she said.
The defence counsel argued that the prosecution did not provide a medical doctor to corroborate the evidence, and the defendant told the court that the allegations were based on the defendant and survivor’s uncle
“The survivors uncle owe him N3,600 and was denied from purchasing goods on credit “
The defendant further added that the survivor uncle threatened to put him in trouble.
DW1 the defendants wife in her testimony told the court that she is shears at home and such act could not have occurred.
