Trader jailed for defiling six-year-old

Paul Dada |

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has onThursday sentenced a 27-year-old trader, Chidi Ibiam, to 21-years imprisonment for defiling a six-year-old girl.

Ibiam a dealer in foodstuffs who resides at the  Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos was found guilty of a charge of defilement by Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya.

The judge while delivering her verdict said, “I have noted before me all the relevant facts of this case.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty of the crime of defilement and is sentenced to 21 years in prison.”

During the trial, the prosecution led by the  State Counsel, Mr Adebayo Haroun informed court that Ibiam  committed the offence on December15, 2012 and was caught after the victim reported the assault to her mother.

The prosecution said the convict was well known to the victim’s family as he was a neighbour and a  church member.

The six-year-old (name withheld) in her testimony, told the court that the defendant had unlawful carnal knowledge of her on 12 different occasions including a shop and a neighbour’s house.

The victim called Ibiam’s genitals  “tom tom” throughout her testimony.

The judge therefore  in her judgment, advised parents to start teaching their children the rightful names of male and female genitals.

She said “Parents should  teach their children the right names of genitals and give their wards a proper sex education.”

The offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.