For defiling 5-year-old pupil, school driver bags life jail
EMERGENCY DIGEST- An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court yesterday sentenced a school bus driver, Tony Akpan, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a five-year-old pupil.
Justice Abiola Soladoye also sentenced Ms Itoro Wilson to two years imprisonment for cover-up and assisting the convict to evade justice.
Justice Soladoye convicted the defendants on a two-count charge bordering on child defilement contrary Sections 137 and 415 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The trial judge, while delivering judgment, held that the prosecution had proved the charge of sexual assault against Akpan and his accomplice, Ms Itoro Wilson, the school bus assistance.
Justice Soladoye held that there was an overwhelming evidence before the court that the defendants committed the offences for which they were charged.
The court held that testimony of the survivor was truthful and boldly narrated by her.
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She also noted that the doctor’s testimony also corroborated the account of the incident as narrated by the survivor.
“The first defendant is hereby found guilty as charged contrary to the provisions of Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State and is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
She ordered that the first defendant’s name should be entered in the Sex Offenders Register of the Lagos State Government.
The judge said the second defendant ought to have spoken up and not concealed the truth about the incident.
“The second defendant is hereby sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for felony.”
She said the punishment meted to her will serve as deterrent to others who might want to behave in like manner.
The judge admonished Roy Mind Favour Filled School, Unilag Estate, Magodo Isheri, the employer of the convicts, to recruit responsible staff.
“The parents must get value for the money they pay. Miscreants should not be on the payroll of any responsible school.
“Children are meant to be protected and not be subjected to any assault whatsoever,” the judge said.
Five witnesses testified against the defendants.
