JUSTICE Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has convicted and sentenced Francis Onwuzulike, a middle-aged man, to nine years and six months’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting his neighbour’s 13-year-old son.
The convict was initially arraigned sometime in 2018, to which he had pleaded not guilty. The state counsel, Bukola Okeowo, commenced the trial, during which the survivor testified and was cross-examined by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku.
In his statement, the survivour told the court that when he was 13 years old, the convict, who was his neighbour sexually abused him on three separate occasions. He further explained that the convict would send him on errands and, upon his return, lock his door before perpetrating acts of sexual violence. The boy also told the court that the convict threatened to kill him if he disclosed to anyone what he did to him.
After his examination-in-chief, and cross-examination by Ajanaku, the survivour told the court that he suffered from constipation and other health complications due to the abuse.
However, Onwuzulike later approached the prosecution for a plea bargain agreement, and he was therefore re-arraigned on an amended three-count charge bordering on indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, and indecent acts.
While delivering judgment, Justice Oshodi held that he was satisfied that the convict knew the nature of the offences to which he pleaded guilty. According to him, the convict was initially charged with sexual assault by penetration, an offence which attracts life imprisonment as punishment.
“Following the negotiations between the prosecution and your counsel, a plea agreement was reached, dated May 27, 2025, and having pleaded guilty to indecent treatment of a child, contrary to sections 135, 263, and 134, respectively.
‘’Under the current charges to which you have pleaded guilty and been convicted, the prescribed punishments are as follows: count one, indecent treatment of a child: seven years’ imprisonment; count two, sexual assault: three year’s imprisonment; and count three, indecent acts: two year’s imprisonment.
‘’Accordingly, you are hereby sentenced to nine years and six months’ imprisonment, which shall commence from the date of your remand on September 12, 2018,” the court held.
