A Lagos Sexual Offences Court in Ikeja has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to a cobbler, Alex Michael, and a self-proclaimed Alfa, Yakubu Isiaka. The judgment was pronounced by Justice Rahman Oshodi following their conviction on charges brought against them by the state government.
The defendants were accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with a thirteen-year-old girl and faced a two-count charge. Originally arraigned before Justice Sybil Nwaka, who was subsequently elevated to the Appeal Court, they had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The re-arraignment of the defendants took place before Justice Oshodi on August 3, 2021. They were accused of having sexual intercourse with the underage girl on three occasions between October and November 2019 at Fatai Olukoga Street, Igbo Olowu Estate in Ikorodu. Alex Michael was alleged to have engaged in the act three times, while Alfa Yakubu Isiaka was accused of doing so twice.
The offence of defilement is in violation of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Although the defendants initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, the prosecution team, consisting of Babajide Boye, O. Aluko, and I. D. Solarin, presented witnesses, including the survivor and an Investigation Police Officer (IPO), along with documentary evidence.
The IPO testified about how she became acquainted with the defendants when they were brought to the Human Rights Section of Owutu Police Division. In his statement, Alex Michael claimed that the girl would often visit their house, but he denied having any relationship with her. He stated that the allegation of defilement was fabricated as a result of an altercation between himself and the girl’s father after he slapped his own sister. Michael also alleged that he was beaten and threatened at the police station before providing his statement.
The court ultimately found Alex Michael and Yakubu Isiaka guilty of the charges and sentenced them to life imprisonment for their actions.
