A 22-year-old graduate, Femi Ayoade has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for defiling a four-year-old girl inside a tricycle.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against sexual violence.
Presiding Judge Abiola Soladoye ruled that the prosecution had proven the charge of defilement beyond reasonable doubt.
In her scathing remarks, she described Ayoade as a “criminally audacious man who turned a child’s vagina into a playground,” condemning the act as “shameless” and “inhumane.”
“The prosecution has successfully presented compelling evidence against the defendant,” Soladoye declared. “Consequently, the defendant is hereby found guilty of the charge of defilement and is sentenced to life imprisonment.”
The judge also ordered that Ayoade’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register, a public record designed to track and deter sexual offenders.
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During the trial, State Counsel Mrs. Olufunke Alebiosu presented two witnesses: the young survivor and her father.
The survivor, despite her age, bravely recounted the traumatic incident, while her father provided corroborating testimony. Ayoade, the defendant, testified as the sole witness for the defense.
The offence occurred in September 2021 at approximately 11:10 a.m. at No. 19, Milestone Close, Infinity Estate, Skido Bus Stop, Eti-Osa, Lagos.
The prosecution stated that the act violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Chapter C17, Volume 3, Laws of 2015, which prescribes life imprisonment for defilement of a child under 11 years.
The courtroom remained solemn as the sentence was pronounced, with many observers expressing relief that justice had been served.
The case has reignited public discourse on child protection and the urgent need for stronger enforcement of sexual offence laws across Nigeria.
Crediblenewsng.com
