A high court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos state, on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024, sentenced one Dennis Okubiat to 20 years in prison for the alleged defilement of a 12-year-old girl over a period of three (3) months, causing urinary incontinence.
The presiding judge, Justice Ismail Ijelu held that the victim had testified that she went to check on the suspect, who had not been to church after the Pastor of her church instructed her to do so.
Justice Ijelu held that the victim respected Okubiat as an elder in their church, went to check on him and helped him with domestic chores.
Justice Ijelu also stated that when the victim was cross-examined by the defence counsel, M. O. Kareem, she repeated her claims and further stated that the suspect had threatened to kill her if she told anyone of the ordeal.
The judge further held that Okubiat did not deny the testimony of the victim, nor did he challenge it.
The victim further testified that after he was done, the convict offered her Garri because she loved Garri, “so, he gave me garri and groundnut to drink, and I slept off. When I woke up, I saw a white substance in my private part, and I woke Okubiat up and asked him what happened to me; he said if I told anybody, he would kill me.
“He did it several times for three months, and on September 6, 2021, he came to my house and said we should do it; I said I don’t know what you have been doing to me, so he started shouting and calling me to come and do it; that was how our neighbours heard and caught him.
“After he raped me, whenever I sit down, my private part is always itching me, and it makes me look like a mad girl in the street. When I wake up in the morning, I’m always wet, but during the day, I can control myself.
In his defence, Okubiat said the victim came to his house because her mother was working in a hotel and she abandoned the victim and her other siblings, and that he used to give the victim and her sisters food whenever they were hungry.
He also testified that he had known the victim’s family since the time they came into the community.
A nurse, Oluchi Nwoke-Okoi, a staff of the Women at Risk Foundation, had also testified during the trial that the victim was brought to their office on September 14, 2021, by her relatives on account of the sexual defilement of a minor.
Justice Ijelu in his judgment held that the court accepts the entirety of the victim’s evidence as it was corroborated by the medical report presented.
He said the prosecution led by the state counsel Babatunde Sunmonu proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“I accept the entirety of this evidence, and the defence tried to discredit it.
“The court finds that this piece of evidence by PW 2 (victim) unequivocally proved the ingredients of the offence of defilement.
“The act of Okubiat was premeditated, the victim was vulnerable, and he took advantage of her.
“The court finds that the act of the convict harmed the victim as it has caused her extreme psychological impact and social impact,” the judge said.
“Okubiat is hereby sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, to run from the day he was arrested and remanded”.
