A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has, Monday, sentenced 42 years old ex-Exxon Mobil Engineer, James Onuoha, to 15 years imprisonment for raping his tenant’s 14-years old niece in Ajah Lagos.
Justice Adedayo Akintoye, who presided over the case, sentenced the perpetrator without an option of fine after he was found guilty of the four-count charge levelled against him.
Onuoha, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Before the verdict, the convict’s counsel, Dr Victor Olowonla, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to tender justice with mercy as he was a first time offender.
His words: “My lord, he is a first time offender, he is a family man with wife and children and also the breadwinner of his family.”
He emphasised that the convict had lost his job since the case came up. Hence, pleaded, “I urge my lord to tender justice with mercy”.
He was first arraigned in January 2016 at the Magistrates‘ Court on a four-count charge of defilement. Onouah was remanded in Kirikiri correctional centre pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Following his indictment by the DPP, the case was transferred to the high court for trial. The state government accused the convict of committing the alleged offences on January 4, 2016, at 11:30 am, at 25, Samuel Amoore Street, Idowu Estate, Ike-Ira Nla, Ajah, Lagos.
The case was thus adjourned to March 25 this year for hearing. But with the lockdown from COVID-19 pandemic across the state, judgment could not be delivered.
The prosecution led by Dr. Jide Martins said the defendant willfully had an unlawful sexual act with the teenager without her consent.
He said the offences contravened Sections 134 (2), 135 (1), and is punishable under Sections 137 and 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
