Lagos Couple Sentenced to 11yrs in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Teenager

On Monday, the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court arraigned and sentenced a couple, Ezimora Okechukwu, aged 49, to seven years and three years consecutively for indecent handling and sexual assault of their 15-year-old housemaid, and his wife, Ezimora Obioma, to one year of community service for concealing the crime.

The prosecution counsel stated that these actions violate Section 135 (1), 163, and 415 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The incident took place on July 17, 2022, at the convicts’ residence in the Abule-Osun area of Lagos State. Okechukwu indecently touched and sexually assaulted the victim, who reported the assault to Obioma. Instead of reporting it, Obioma chose to conceal the incident.

Their amended charge read, “Felony contrary to Section 135(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Did you, Ezimora Okechukwu, on July 17, 2022, at No 9, Block 19, Divine Height Street, Abule Osun, Lagos State, indecently handle a victim, a 15-year-old, by caressing her breast?”

“Sexual assault contrary to Section 163 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. Did you Ezimora Okechukwu sexually assault the victim?”

“Accessory after the fact of felony contrary to Section 415 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. Did you Ezimora Obioma, fail to notify police when the victim age 15 years, reported to you that one Ezimora Okechukwu had sexual intercourse with her.”

Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.

PUNCH Metro reports that the first defendant’s charge, which was, “Defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, was reduced after he applied for a plea bargain through his counsel. He and his wife were then granted a lesser charge and sentence.

The prosecution counsel attested to this saying, “The Honourable Attorney General considered the request on the grounds that the defendants showed remorse for their actions, were first-time offenders with no previous convictions and the impact of the conviction on the second defendant and her four young children.”

He further stated, “The Attorney General then accepted that the 2nd defendant be sentenced to a conditional discharge of one-year community service.”

In his judgment, Justice Ramon Oshodi stated that the couple’s actions were heinous.

“The first defendant stands accused of a heinous act, the defilement of a vulnerable housemaid who found shelter under his roof. The second defendant, rather than being a protector or seeking justice, the second defendant is said to have become an accomplice in silence and an accessory, she stands accused of disregarding the victim’s right by concealing the alleged crime even after the occurrence. These allegations paint a picture of the horror of abuse of power and moral failure challenging our society’s most fundamental principle of care and trust,” he held.

He then handed down a seven-year sentence to the first defendant, Okechukwu, for indecent handling and an additional three years for sexually assaulting the victim, with both sentences to be served simultaneously. He also sentenced Obioma to one year of community service.

Source: The PUNCH