A 32-year-old street sweeper, Damilola Omojolowo, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, November 13, by an Ikeja Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court, for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl.

Justice Abiola Sholadoye convicted Omojolowo on one count of defilement of the girl, whom he claimed was his girlfriend.

The offence committed contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

According to the prosecution counsel, A.R. Abolade, the convict committed the offence between June 2022 and July 2022 at No. 3 Church Street, Ajegunle, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

The prosecutor also stated that the incident came to light on August 6, 2022, after the convict gave the victim a white tablet to ingest which made her start bleeding after which she was taken to the hospital.

Omojolowo was arraigned and he pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him. He admitted to having unlawful intercourse with the victim, stating that she was his girlfriend.

He however denied giving her any tablet to ingest.

“It is right that a minor cannot consent to any s3xual activity. Even if she did, it is of no use.‘ Justice Soladoye said before sentencing him.

“He denied giving any tablet to the victim to ingest. It is important to stress that the only charge to this case is that of defilement of the child; so, the issue of the swallowing of the tablet by the child is of no importance.

“Since the offence of defilement is a strict liability offence with a mandatory sentence, the defendant, Damilola Omojolowo, is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for defilement, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

“The defendant, Damilola Omojolowo, male, is to have his name registered in the sex offenders registry as maintained by Lagos State Government.”