Michael Mowete, a school bus driver, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the defilement of a three-year-old girl (name withheld).
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi emphasized the strength of the prosecution’s case in proving the charge beyond reasonable doubt. He dismissed Mowete’s claims of a relationship with the victim’s mother, citing conflicting evidence presented during the trial.
“The convict’s allegation of having an amorous relationship with the mother of the victim in her shop does not hold water,” Oshodi stated. He highlighted testimony from the school bus assistant, who affirmed Mowete’s presence whenever the child was dropped off at her mother’s shop.
The court found compelling the direct testimony of the young survivor, who despite her age, detailed the assault to the court. Her account was corroborated by her mother and medical examination evidence, along with circumstantial evidence from the investigating police officer.
“The totality of the evidence, including that of the prosecutrix, corroborates the mother’s testimony and the medical report,” Justice Oshodi remarked. He further pointed out the medical examination’s findings of repeated blunt force penetration.
Regarding Mowete’s defense, which relied on phone call logs purportedly showing communication with the victim’s mother, Justice Oshodi ruled that such evidence was inconclusive and did not support his claims.
“The prosecution has discharged the burden of proof against the defendant,” Justice Oshodi concluded. Mowete was convicted under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015) and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In his sentencing statement, Justice Oshodi addressed Mowete directly: “Michael Mowete, this court has found you guilty of the charge of defilement. You have defiled a child, barely three years of age, and attempted to mislead by fabricating a relationship with her mother.”
The judge ordered that Mowete’s name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register and that he serve his sentence in the Maximum Correctional Centre.
The trial saw four witnesses presented by both the prosecution and defense. The offence was committed on September 27, 2019, at locations in Isolo and Ago Okota, Lagos, according to the prosecution’s submissions.
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