By Eseohe Solomon
In a chilling case that has shaken Lagos, Michael Mowete, a school bus driver, has been handed a life sentence for the despicable act of defiling a three-year-old girl. The verdict was delivered by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
The prosecution successfully presented compelling evidence, including the harrowing testimony of the victim detailing the assault. This crucial evidence was bolstered by corroborative statements from the victim’s mother, medical reports, and circumstantial evidence from the Investigating Police Officer.
Judge Oshodi dismissed Mowete’s defense claims, particularly his assertion of a romantic relationship with the victim’s mother, due to lack of substantiating evidence. Despite attempts by the defense to discredit the victim’s testimony as coached, the court found no basis for these allegations.
During sentencing, Justice Oshodi delivered a scathing condemnation of Mowete’s actions, highlighting the severe trauma inflicted upon the child and her family. He emphasized the profound impact of the crime, noting medical evidence that indicated recent signs of blunt force penetration.
Addressing Mowete directly, Justice Oshodi declared, “Michael Mowete, this court has found you guilty of defilement. You have irreversibly harmed a child barely three years old, and attempted to deceive this court with fabrications about an amorous relationship with her mother.”
The judge sentenced Mowete to life imprisonment and ordered his inclusion in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register. He further directed that Mowete serve his sentence in the maximum correctional center, underscoring the severity of the crime committed.
Babajide Boye, the prosecutor, and the defense counsel each presented their cases with four witnesses, reflecting the gravity and intensity of the legal proceedings.
