Lagos State Government has again secured a Conviction in favour of a minor in a case of defilement filed by the State against Inyang Kingsley.

Delivering judgement, Justice Sedonten Ogunsanya, of the Lagos High Court, sentenced to life imprisonment Kingsley on a one count charge of defilement of a minor, a twelve year old girl.

The Court had earlier upheld the argument of the Prosecution, led by the Attorney General, Adeniji Kazeem that by the provision of Section 261 of the Child’s Right Law Chapter C7 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State which defined the Child as someone under the age of 18 years and with testimonies of the Prosecution witnesses which included the Victim’s Father, the investigating Police Officer, and a Medical Doctor.

The Court was satisfied that the Prosecution established the Victim was a Child. The Court also observed several inconsistences in the testimonies of 4 Defence witnesses including the evidence given by the Defendant.

Justice Ogunsanya convicted Kingsley on a one count charge of defilement contrary to section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and sentenced him to a life imprisonment being the punishment prescribed the Law.

During the trial the Defence Counsel to Kingsley, Hassan Fajimite had earlier pleaded with the Court to tamper justice with mercy because he was a young man who came to Lagos fend for a daily livelihood. A plea rejected by the Court in the final sentencing.

It will be recalled that Kingsley a church member with the victim’s Parents in July 2015, at No 16 Adetunde Arogundade Street, Iju Ishaga, was accused to have had carnal knowledge of the 12 year old girl, who was sent by her parents to call on him to attend a House Fellowship Programme at the said address, but the Inyang, instead lured the girl into his room and defiled her with a warning that she should not tell anybody about what happened.

In a Statement after the Court Judgement, Kazeem expressed satisfaction with the Judgement and stated that his personal conduct of the case is to show the priority placed by the Lagos State Government at ensuring that perpetrators of sexual offences are not only prosecuted under the law, but that victims of such dastardly acts get Justice.