A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Dele Johnson, to 10 years’ imprisonment for indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.
Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted the defendant of a two-count amended charge brought against him by the prosecution, B. E. Okeowo and sentenced him.
The convict was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl (names withheld) multiple times between 2019 and 2021.
The defendant had earlier pleaded not guilty when arraigned on August 23, 2022.The defendant was re-arraigned yesterday on an amended two-count charge bordering on indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault by foundling her breast.
The judge asked the defendant whether he understood the contents of his guilty plea and the obligation of the court to give out the maximum sentences on the charges.
Dele admitted he made the plea bargain voluntary and was satisfied by the advice of his counsel.
He admitted and pleaded guilty.
Earlier, during resumed proceedings, the survivor told the court that the convict, Dele had sex with her multiple times in his apartment and told her not to tell anyone, adding that she later became pregnant.
The survivor said she was 16 years old when the defilement started and continued till 2021 when she became pregnant.
The judge noted that the prosecution brought four witnesses, including the survivor and her mother and the Investigative Police Officer (IPO).
Delivering judgment in the matter on Wednesday, Justice Oshodi held that the survivor’s mother told the court that the defendant, Dele, initially agreed to take care of the pregnancy but failed to comply with the agreement which led her to report the case to the police.
The judge also held that the IPO also testified that the case was reported by the survivors’ mother alleging that her daughter was defiled and impregnated by the defendant Dele.
He held that during the investigation, the defendant admitted to having sex with the survivor on multiple occasions.
The prosecution counsel B. E Okeowo informed the court that both parties have entered a plea and sentence agreement dated May 8, 2024. The counsel informed the court that the plea bargain required filling an amended charge.
The defence counsel A. Fa-Yusfu said: “We apply for a plea bargain for the defendant we beg the court to grant the plea bargain.”
Okeowo urged the court to sentence the convict according to the plea bargain agreement.
Oshodi sentenced the convict to seven years on the first count of indecent treatment of a child and to three years on count two for sexual assault.
He said: “The sentences are to run concurrently and not consecutively.
The judge ordered the convict to be returned to the Ikoyi Custodial Center and for his name to be included in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.’’
