Man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping neighbour’s 7-yr-old daughter
A Lagos court has handed a 25-year-old graphic designer, Abodurin Apelogun, a life sentence for raping his 7-year-old neighbor during the COVID-19 lockdown.
He was re-arraigned on 29 May, following an amendment to the charge dated 23 April.
The prosecution said the offence occurred on 19 June 2020, at No. 48A, Oil Mill Street, Lagos Island, when Mr Apelogun unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the minor, in violation of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015).
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court found Apelogun guilty of defilement, citing overwhelming evidence, including medical reports and eyewitness accounts.
The prosecution presented four witnesses and two exhibits, while the defense called three witnesses.
The survivor testified that Apelogun assaulted her in her parents’ absence, and her father discovered the crime after questioning his children.
Apelogun showed no remorse, maintaining a complete denial of the allegations. Justice Oshodi emphasized that defilement causes lifelong trauma to children, outweighing any plea for mercy.
The court ordered Apelogun’s name to be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register and transferred him to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, to serve his sentence.
