Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has sentenced a motorcycle taxi (Okada) rider, Monday Olukunle, also known as Seaman, to seven years imprisonment for his involvement in the group sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl at an uncompleted building.

Justice Ogala found Olukunle guilty of conspiracy and abduction but acquitted him of defilement due to a lack of evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge emphasised that the prosecution failed to present key witnesses to establish the defendant’s guilt.

“The alleged victim did not testify or identify the defendant. It is important to note that neither the individuals who arrested the defendant, the alleged friend, nor the chairman of the estate testified regarding the charge of defilement linking the defendant to the direct act.

“These witnesses are crucial in establishing the guilt of the defendant. Therefore, the court finds that the prosecution failed to prove that the defendant indeed defiled the victim,” the court held.

Justice Ogala said that the evidence of PW2 and PW3 sufficiently corroborated the convict’s confession, and the court found that the attempt to dissociate him from the events of the incident was an afterthought and held little weight in view of the facts before the court.

She ordered that the convict’s term commence from the date of remand, September 30, 2022, and run concurrently.

According to the three-count charge preferred against the convict, the police alleged that Olukunle and another (now at large), on September 30, 2022, at No. 15 Ralitu Daramola Street, Abogunloko, Ikotun, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, conspired to abduct the survivor to an uncompleted building to sexually assault her.

During the trial, the prosecutor called three witnesses: a medical doctor, Nnani Nkechi Jane; Mordi David; and Police Inspector Yemi Amoo. The convict represented himself.