The Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court, Ikeja, Lagos has convicted one Dele Johnson to 10 years’ imprisonment for indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault.
Justice Rahmon Oshodi handed down the sentence on May 8, 2024, after careful consideration of the evidence presented, finding the defendant guilty on two counts of indecent treatment of a child and sexual assault, as stipulated in Sections 135, C. 17, Vol 3, and 263 C.17, Vol 3, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Oshodi said Johnson physically assaulted Hawawu Hammed, who was living with him, by severely beating her and causing scars on her body and also sexually assaulted her for two years before being reported and arrested by the police. When arraigned on May 10, 2021, he admitted and pleaded guilty to the two counts.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution led by B.E. Okeowo, presented a compelling case, and the victim, aged 17, testified, describing the gory incident and identifying Johnson as the perpetrator. Justice Oshodi described Johnson’s actions as “morally reprehensible and illegal,” noting that they took place over an extended period before his arrest.
However, Johnson pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility.
Justice Oshodi found the defendant guilty of the two counts and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment, with seven years for indecent treatment of a child and three years for sexually assaulting a minor. Johnson was immediately taken to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre to serve his sentence concurrently and will be registered as a sex offender in the Lagos State Sex Offender Register.
