Bricklayer Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Sexual Assault

Gabriel Awaye, a bricklayer, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court for defiling a 13-year-old girl in his apartment.

The prosecutor was able to prove the elements of the two counts of defilement and sexual assault against the convict, according to the judge.

Justice Soladoye ruled that the bricklayer, because of his blatant sexual recklessness, was unable to be a member of the civilized community and should be imprisoned for life.

The judge remarked in her verdict delivered on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, that the survivor was coherent and straightforward while giving her evidence before the court.

The survivor’s testimony, according to the judge, was also verified by other prosecution witnesses.

“The Prosecution Witness One (survivor) testified before this court that she was at her grandmother’s place when her friend, Rofiat, told her that her sister sent for her,” the judge said.

“The witness said when she got to the place, she did not meet her sister but saw the convict who pushed her onto the mat and sodomised her.

“The evidence of the convict is laced with lies as he tried to detach himself from the offence by saying the mother of the survivor tried to have a sexual relationship with him.

“To the mind of this court, the prosecution witnesses were truthful in their testimonies and their pieces of evidence were corroborated,” she said.

According to Justice Soladoye, the court found Awaye guilty of the two counts of defilement and sexual assault after a thorough review of the evidence presented before it.

“The survivor identified Awaye as the man who defiled her when she was 13 years old.

“Awaye is hereby found guilty and is sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the two-count charges and he should have his name registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register,” the judge held.

The prosecution called three witnesses during the trial, whereas the defendant was the sole witness in his case.

Ms Abimbola Abolade, the state’s prosecuting counsel, stated that the convict committed the crimes on June 2, 2021.

She stated that the event occurred on Agbawaye Street, Command, Agbado Oke-Odo, Lagos State.

When the convict was arraigned, he pled not guilty to the two counts sought by the state against him.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed violated Sections 127 and 261 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2015.