Man, 50, bags 14 years imprisonment for attempted sexual assault of minor

Justice Rahman Oshodi of a Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a middle-aged man, Chukuwemaka Ejike to 14 years imprisonment for attempted sexual assault of a nine-year-old girl .

The judge described the offence which the convict was charged before him as a terrible thing.  According to him, he does not understand what a man like him wants from such a young child.

The survivor who was nine years old testified against the defendant which she was referring to as “Baba Chinedu,”  saying  that he forcefully had intercourse with her, by forcing his penis into her vagina. Her evidence was corroborated by the medical doctor who carried out a test on her at Mirabel center.

However, the defendant changed his plea while he opted for plea bargain in an amended charge dated January 4,2024.

The defendant opted for a plea bargain and he was re-arraigned on January 15, 2024.

He however pleaded guilty to the amended charge of attempted sexual assault.

Chukuwemaka Ejike, 2017, No 1, Sampson street Oke odo, Agege Lagos, attempted to put his penis in the vagina of a 9 year old girl.

In convicting the defendant, the judge noted that he was satisfied that the defendant understood the significance of his decision to plead guilty to the amended charge and that he was not forced to plead guilty.

“I was satisfied that the defendant understood the significance of his decision to plead guilty to the amended charge and that his counsel had explained the charge to him; he also admitted that he made the plea voluntarily .

“There is abundance evidence to support the charge against the defendant; the prosecution has proved its case against him.

“I hereby convict him accordingly.”

In his plea for leniency, Ejike begged the court to have mercy on him, saying he will not do such a thing again.

Counsel to the defendant, Chinwe Owojori in his allocutus urged the court to be lenient with him, stating that he has turned a new leaf.

She said, “My lord, we plead that you temper justice with mercy, the defendant changed his plea and did not waste the time of the court. He has turned a new leaf and learnt his lessons.”

Justice  Oshodi thereafter convicted Ejike of the charge and sentenced him to 14-year imprisonment.

He added that the convict’s name be entered in the Sexual Offences Register maintained by Lagos State Government.