A 35-year-old man, Hoya Abraham (alias star boy) has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in Lagos for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration.
Abraham admitted guilt under a plea bargain agreement.
While pronouncing the sentence on Abraham on Thursday, Justice Rahman Oshodi of Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court said he was satisfied that Abraham understood the nature of the plea bargain and the gravity of the charge against him.
Oshodi noted that Hoya Abraham pleaded not guilty to a charge of defilement when he was first arraigned on Aug. 8, 2021.
He added that consequently, three prosecution witnesses – the victim/survivor, her mother and an investigative police officer had testified against Abraham.
“Her (victim/survivor) evidence was corroborated by the confessional statement of Abraham to have committed the offence.
“The victim in her testimony said that the defendant asked her to come over to his house to fry eggs for him and he ended up having sex with her which resulted in bleeding.
“However, when the case was called today, the prosecution informed the court that that defendant had opted for a plea bargain and he was re-arraigned on an amended information dated Jan. 18” the judge said.
Oshodi added that evidence presented by the prosecution established an attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration.
“I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged.
“However, I have considered the plea bargain that you signed and the allocutus from your counsel.
“I hereby sentence you to 14 years’ imprisonment which will start from the day of your remand,” the judge said.
Oshodi directed that Abraham’s name should be put in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
Defence counsel, Mr Nelson Onyejaka had in his allocutus (plea for leniency), prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
Onyejaka told the court that Abraham was remorseful.
State counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, submitted that the convict committed the offence sometime in July 2019, on Mowo Kekere Elepe in Ikorodu, Lagos.
She said that the convict attempted to have sexual intercourse with the minor in contravention of Section 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)
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