An
Ikeja magistrate’s Court, weekend, sentenced a 37-year-old man, Ibrahim
Abu, to six months imprisonment for touching the breast of a
17-year-old girl (names withheld) without her consent.
Abu, who lives at 6, Mosque Close, Isheri-Olofin, Lagos State, was
arraigned before Magistrate Osusanmi and sentenced last Friday for
sexually assaulting the girl Monday last week.
Vanguard
gathered that the girl was asked by her parents to learn hairdressing,
while awaiting the release of her Senior Secondary Certificate
Examination, SSCE, result.
It was learned that at 7:30p.m. last week Monday, while she was returning home, Abu accosted the
victim at Baale Bus Stop Akowonjo, and touched her breast without seeking her consent.
It was gathered that in retaliation, she slapped Abu and he hit her
with a plank; she reportedly fell, became unconscious and was rushed to a
hospital. Abu was later arrested by policemen attached to Shasha Police
Station and the case reported to Domestic, Sexual Violence Response
Team, DSVRT.
Delivering her judgment, Osusanmi said the offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Reacting to the judgement, Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said:
“While
we are pleased with this conviction, this case depicts the current
height of impunity with which abusers act. The success of this
conviction can be linked to DSVRT’s early engagement with the concerned
victim and collaboration with the police, who despite the pleas and
pressures from members of the society, ensured that the case was charged
to court.
“The role of the
society in encouraging victims to speak out, protect victims and
encourage justice is now crucial more than ever.”
Vivour-Adeniyi alsoo disclosed that “the defendant’s name and details have been entered into the Sex Offenders Register.
“We,
therefore, use this medium to implore members of the society and
stakeholders to play their roles in the fight against sexual and
gender-based violence.”