By Fawaz Adebisi
A 65-year-old landlord, Igwe Ambrose, has been sentenced to two life terms in prison for sexually abusing two young girls, aged seven and eleven, who lived in his property.
It was gathered that the girls are the daughters of one of his tenants.
The landlord was convicted on Monday, November 20, by Justice Abiola Soladoye of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
The court heard that the landlord inserted his fingers into the girls’ private parts and fondled their breasts, pretending to help them with their homework.
The heinous crimes took place at Shagari Estate in Ipaja, Lagos, between January and June 2021.
Ambrose faced a four-count charge of indecent treatment of a minor and sexual assault by penetration, brought by the Lagos state government.
Justice Soladoye said that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the landlord was guilty of the charges.
She called him a “dirty old man” who lied shamelessly in his defence.
The judge said that the girls bravely confided in their mother, who informed their father, who then confronted the landlord and reported the matter to the police.
According to her, the police visited the scene and invited the landlord to the station for questioning. The landlord denied the allegations.
However, Justice Soladoye said that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, including the girls, their mother, and the investigating police officer, were credible and consistent.
She said: “The defendant was identified as the assailant and their evidence was corroborated by their mother and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) who visited the crime scene and a clear account of the assault and indecent treatment was confirmed.”
The judge then sentenced the landlord to life imprisonment on counts one and two and three years each on counts three and four.
She also ordered that his name be entered in the Sexual Offences Register maintained by the Lagos State Government.
During the trial, the state counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke, called four witnesses and tendered five exhibits. The landlord testified for himself.
