Sunday Uche, a groundnut trader, received a life sentence from the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl.
Uche admitted to the crime, revealing that he engaged in sexual activity with the child after she was brought to his house to ask for groundnuts.
Despite acknowledging the wrongdoing of his actions, he proceeded due to his own desires.
While he claimed not to have ejaculated inside the girl, he did admit to giving her groundnuts and causing her distress. Initially pleading not guilty in 2017, Uche was detained awaiting trial.
The prosecution pointed out that Uche's behavior violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, addressing cases of defilement.
Taking advantage of the young girl's innocence, Uche committed the offense in his own home. The court recognized the severity of the situation, leading to the decision to impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The judge emphasized the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals in society and emphasized the detrimental impact such crimes have on victims.
The decisive sentencing serves as a strong warning against perpetrators of sexual violence, emphasizing the necessity of justice and protection for the defenseless..
According to Punch, Uche said, “I was at home when one small boy brought a four-year-old girl to my house to beg for groundnuts, so I decided to have sexual intercourse with her. After everything, I gave her some groundnuts. The small baby cried. I knew what I was doing was wrong but I was so eager, but I did not release inside the vagina. After releasing sperm, I became weak, surprisingly the mother of the girl came to my house to look for me."