Justice Abiola Soladoye of an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court has sentenced a 42-year-old father, Ekpo Lawrence to life imprisonment for defiling and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter.
Justice Soladoye held that the prosecution proved the ingredients of the charge of defilement proffered against Ekpo by the Lagos State Government beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court held that the evidence given by the prosecution were consistent while those of the defendant were inconsistent and manifestly unreliable, adding that the convict’s denial of the allegations was a calculated attempt to mislead the court.
“The immoral behaviour of having sex with his biological daughter is toxic, absolutely disgraceful and an abomination contrary to the law of nature. It is morally reprehensible as it is incest.
“Where is the self-respect of this defendant? How absolutely bizarre? Having sex with his daughter obviously took away his ability to make rational decisions. He foolishly tampered with the purity and self-esteem of his child.
“I pray for inner peace for the victim to relieve her of fear and hatred for her father who sexually molested her several times so that she can deal with her pains, trials and tribulations and go on to live a purpose-driven life.
“A father should be a trusted person in the life of a child. He is supposed to keep his child safe but he betrayed her sexually. He ripped purity off her body and her soul. This is taboo and he must, no doubt, face the music for his morbid, sordid sexual misconduct.
“For the above-stated reasons, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of fine,” the Judge said.
Justice Soladoye ordered that the convict’s name should be registered in the Sex Offenders’ Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.