An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a man, Buchi Stanley, to four years and two months imprisonment for the indecent treatment of a 14-year-old girl.
Justice Rahman Oshodi convicted him after he pleaded guilty to one of the charges brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
The prosecution said Stanley, sometime in October 2022, at No. 2, Owoseni Street, Surulere, Lagos, indecently treated a 14-year-old girl by asking her to massage his penis with her hands.
Stanley, who was initially arraigned on May 26, 2023, over an allegation of defilement, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault, admitted in his statement that he told the minor to touch his penis severally.
He said, “One particular morning on October 18, 2022, I was bathing and I heard a knock on my door. I couldn’t come out due to the fact that I didn’t know who it was, but I managed to come out with my towel just hanging on my shoulder, then I saw my neighbour’s daughter standing inside my room.
“Then I asked what the issues were, and she said she wanted to make payment for something in school. I gave her money to go and get the change when she got back. I was done bathing, and she was about to leave. I asked her to come, and she drew closer to me. I held her hand and made her touch/feel my penis, then I asked her to leave.
“On October 25, 2022, I asked her to come, and I asked her to hold me, and she did. I couldn’t feel anything and asked her to hold my penis, and she did.”
Justice Oshodi, while delivering judgement, convicted the defendant on the lesser offence of indecent treatment of a child but held that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the charge of defilement and sexual assault. According to Oshodi, the offence of indecent treatment of a child contravenes Section 135 of the criminal law.
Oshodi said, “While the charge of defilement is not sustained, the evidence presented does establish all the ingredients of indecent treatment of a child beyond reasonable doubt. I find the defendant guilty of the lesser offence of indecent treatment of a child contrary to section 135 of the criminal law.
“On the charge of defilement, the prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant engaged in sexual intercourse with the survivor, the defendant is therefore acquitted of this charge.
“On the charge of sexual harassment, the prosecution has failed to establish the necessary elements of the offence as required by Section 264 of the criminal law; the defendant is therefore acquitted of this charge.
The court, therefore, sentenced him to four years and two months imprisonment on the offence of indecent treatment of a child. The court held that the sentence shall commence on the date of Stanley’s remand.
Oshodi said, “Therefore, Buchi Stanley for the offence of indecent treatment of a child, I sentence you to four years and two months imprisonment. You shall also be registered as a sex offender.
“This sentence shall commence on the date of your remand, November 8, 2022.
“The prosecutrix was a child of 14 years at the time of the offence, your actions exploited her vulnerability and innocence. As a neighbour and as an adult figure, in the position of trust, which you greatly abused.
“Your statement imbued that this was just a lapse yet it involved multiple incidents of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards a child.”
