MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR DEFILING 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LAGOS

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced Idris Ashimiyu to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling an 11-year-old girl.

Justice Abiola Soladoye delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and ordered that his name be added to the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

Ashimiyu had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

During the trial, the survivor, who was 13 when she testified, told the court that she knew Ashimiyu because he carried out errands and washed cars within their compound.

She gave an account of the assault and said her grandmother discovered what had happened after coming to look for her.

The defence called a witness, identified as Ibrahim, who acknowledged that he was not present during the incident. He said he learnt about it from a neighbour and repeated Ashimiyu’s denial of the assault.

In her judgment, Justice Soladoye described the survivor’s testimony as credible and consistent. She said she had considered the child’s age, her account and the other evidence presented.

The judge also noted that Ashimiyu did not testify in his own defence.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. I therefore find Ashimiyu guilty as charged,” she ruled.

The court subsequently imposed a life sentence and directed that the conviction be recorded in the state’s Sexual Offenders Register.