Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos Special Offences Court has sentenced a 52 year old man, Akin Isaac to 21 years’ imprisonment for the defilement of his daughter.
The court convicted him following his plea of guilty to the one count charge brought against him by the State government.
The convict was accused of sleeping with his daughter since she was at age six up to 18 years.
The prosecution counsel, Omowumi Bajulaye-Bishi had told court that, Isaac who resides at No 2b Akinlagbe Street, Alapere had committed the alleged acts, an offence which is contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law Cap C.17, Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
While delivering judgment on the plea bargain agreement the convict signed with the state, the judge said the 21 years proposed as sentence by the state government was too small to the offence which carried a life imprisonment.
The judge added, ” I knew this case very well, I could remember the survivor was crying when giving evidence before the court that she had abortion and how the defendant was beating her.
“The prosecution had called for witnesses to testify against the defendant. The defendant initially pleaded not guilty.”
Justice Taiwo therefore directed the registrar to put the defendant in the witness box to go through process of plea bargain wherein he was asked whether he was forced or coerced by anybody to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Isaac answered that he decided to change his plea. He also pleaded with the court to have mercy on him.
The defendant through his Plea Bargain application dated the 21st of April, 2022 then applied to change his plea.
While reviewing the facts of the case, state counsel, Mrs Bajulaye-Bishi, said that between 2014 and 2020, the defendant was having unlawful sexual intercourse with his daughter which resulted into at least one pregnancy.
“The defendant also attempted to procure abortion for her and regularly administer drugs to her to prevent pregnancy.
“Trial commenced on February 7, 2022 in which the prosecution called 4 witnesses before the defendant approached the prosecution to change his plea.
” Having shown remorse for his action he pleads guilty to the offence of Indecent Treatment of a Child contrary to Section 135 of the Criminal Law Cap C.17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
“That the defendant agreed to plead to the offence of defilement with a lesser sentence of 21 years.”
The court therefore admitted his plea of guilty and sentenced him to 21 years imprisonment.
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