On January 19, a 38-year-old business man, Ofure Siakpere, was sentenced to life in prison for defiling and impregnating his 14-year-old in-law at an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court.

Siakpere, who was 35 at the time of the occurrence, committed the crime at his home at No. 10, Salaudeen Imam Street in Lagos, according to the lead state prosecutor, Funke Adegoke.

During the trial, the girl and a doctor from the Women at Risk International Foundation, Dr. Aniekan Makanjuola, were called as witnesses.

The Lagos business man, who is wedded to her aunt, overpowered and violated the juvenile at least 15 times, according to the girl.

Despite the fact that the convict and his wife disputed the claim, Justice Abiola Soladoye found that the prosecution had established their case beyond a reasonable doubt by calling witnesses who offered “compelling and convincing” testimony.

Aside from being sentenced to life in jail without the possibility of a fine, the convict’s name will be entered into the Lagos state government’s Sex Offenders Register.

Soladoye said, “This is contrary to that of the defense which was rather shallow and full of fallacy. The evidence of the defense witnesses were merely self-serving.”

The judge advised parents to cease sending their children to live with relatives and to plan their families by having as many children as they can financially support.

“The defendant maltreated the victim (his wife’s niece) by defiling her. The conduct of this so-called in-law is hurtful and demeaning. Where is the defendant’s humanity and moral compass?

“This case is a reflection of sexual lawlessness that occurs within the family circle.

“The defendant must be duly sanctioned in the hope that this will serve as a deterrent to others to not toe the line of sexual misconduct.

“The defendant Ofure Siakpere, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of fine.

“His name shall also be registered in the Sex Offenders Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.”