Justice Ramon Oshodi of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Thursday, sentenced a middle-aged man, Sunday Nwokolo, to life imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl.

The judge, on December 12, 2022, convicted Nwokolo on one count of defilement and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Before the convict was sentenced, the judge asked him  to address the court.

Nwokolo, who was seen weeping in the dock, begged for mercy.

His lawyer, Chris Mbajike, also pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy.

According to him, the defendant is a first-time offender.

The prosecutor, Bukola Okeowo, however, urged the court to sentence the defendant accordingly.

Delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi said the victim was 12 years old when the incident happened.

The judge said the defendant alleged that policemen at Agboju Police Station forced him to write several statements, adding that the inconsistencies in his statements showed he was on a mission to defame the Nigeria Police Force with uncoordinated lies.

She said, “I do not have discretion in this matter but to refer to you as a paedophile, a liar and a dangerous offender.

“You are a dangerous offender because the victim said when you defiled her, blood came out of her private parts and you took her to the bathroom to clean up yet you said it was her menstrual flow.

“You are a dangerous offender because the victim suffered immensely in your hand and no other child should be made to suffer a similar fate. I consider you meriting the sentence of life imprisonment.”