Court jails Man for life for defiling neighbour’s under age daughters

Justice Rahman Oshodi, of Lagos State Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court, has on Wednesday March 12, 2025, sentenced one Elistan Kumagbo to life in prison for sexually assaulting his neighbor’s two daughters, aged 8 years and 4 years.

According to Leadership News (LN), Justice Oshodi jailed Kumagbo to life in prison and ordered his name be added to the sexual offenders register.

He stated that the prosecution had proven the case of defilement and sexual assault by penetration brought against him by the state beyond all reasonable doubts.

Recall that, the convict who committed the offences on February 6, 2021, at 34 Olowolagba Street, Yaba, Lagos State, pleaded not guilty when arraigned on May 4, 2022.

In his judgment, Justice Oshodi jailed the convict after the victims, two sisters, provided detailed and matching evidence during the trial.

The judge also cited that, the convict’s verbal statement to the survivor’s father, his confessional words at the police station during the investigation and medical reports confirmed sexual abuse.

“Elistan Kumagbo, you have been found guilty of two serious offences against children; one is a defilement of an 8-year-old girl and sexual assault by the penetration of a 4-year-old girl.

“You exploited their vulnerability and betrayed the trust of their family; during the criminal trial, I heard evidence of how you repeatedly subjected these young girls to sexual abuse.

“You have shown no remorse for your actions; throughout your trial, you denied knowing these children. Section 137 of the Criminal Law prescribes life imprisonment, and Section 261 of the Criminal Law prescribes life imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration.

“Having considered the circumstances of these cases, I hereby sentence you as follows: count one, you’re sentenced to life imprisonment; on count two, you’re sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentences shall run concurrently,” the judge held.

In the court, the prosecution called five witnesses, while the defence called just one witness, the defendant himself.

During the trial, the survivor’s father told the court that the defendant was his brother, though they were not blood-related.

He incited that both came from the same village and he always entrusts his children to his neighbour’s care whenever he goes to work.

He also testified that when he got home on that fateful day, the neighbour, identified as Iya-David, told him that the defendant had sexually abused his daughters.

The witness said that when he confronted the defendant, he admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the first survivor four times and penetrated the second victim’s virginal twice.

PW2 was the second survivor who told the court how the defendant inserted his fingers into her virginal.

According to her, the incident was reported to her father by Iya-David.

PW3, the first survivor, told the court how the defendant would penetrate her sister’s virginal and remove her underwear, cover her mouth, and prevent her from shouting.

The Investigative Police officer, Adeyemi Oluremi, tendered the statements of the survivor, their father, and that of the convict, as well as the medical reports.

In his defence, the defendant stated that he never made the confessional statements and that the accusation arose from PW1W1.

However, it us good to note that, under age children are sexual assault by those who are supposed to protect them.

Protecting children from harm is a shared responsibility, and parents play a crucial role.

On this note, here are some ways parents can safeguard their children from sexual assault:

• Encourage your children to talk openly about their feelings and experiences.
• Teach them the importance of saying “NO” to uncomfortable situations.
• Teach children about boundaries and the difference between safe and unsafe touch in an age-appropriate way.
• Be mindful of who your children interact with, both in person, online and monitor their activities to ensure they are in safe environments.

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