National
Baker, 24, bags life jail for defiling 15-year-old neighbour
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a 24-year-old baker, Adesina Farouk, to life imprisonment for defiling his neighbour’s 15-year-old daughter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi, on Monday, held that the prosecution proved the sole charge of defilement against Farouk.
Oshodi said there was consistent evidence that the convict forcefully had sexual intercourse with the survivor (prosecutrix) which was not consensual as the convict ripped off her pants and there was blood everywhere.
According to him, the convict is a pathological liar who tried to lie his way through the case as he said that the prosecutrix was 18 years and that they were in a relationship but evidence showed that she was born on May 19, 2005.
The judge said that medical report, convict’s confessional statement that he and the prosecutrix were lovers, as a result, had sex with her and the testimony of the prosecutrix showed that the convict committed the offence.
He said that the medical report showed blunt forceful penetration of the vagina.
The judge added that the medical doctor, said the prosecutrix looked very unhappy when she came for the medical examination.
“The prosecutrix testified that the defendant forcefully had sex with her when she went to deliver pure water for him in his house.
“She said when she got to the front of the house and knocked, he did not reply which made her enter the house to drop the water only for the defendant to grab her neck from back, ripped off her pants and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.
“She said she started bleeding due to the force and the defendant threatened to kill her if she told anyone about it.
“During cross-examination when the defence counsel put it to the prosecutrix that the sex was consensual she replied “if he did not force me, how did my pants got torn.”
The court rejected the defendant’s evidence that the prosecutrix was his girlfriend and that the sex was consensual.
The judge held that the charge of defilement was a grave offence and he thereby sentenced Farouk to life imprisonment and his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.
Oshodi said: “Mr Adesina Farouk, you have been found guilty of defilement under Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State and the offence is a grave crime that involves taking advantage of a child’s vulnerability and innocence for selfish sexual gratification.
“It is an offence that leaves its scars on its victims, both physically and emotionally and can have long lasting effect on their mental health and overall well-being.
“In this case, the evidence presented before the court has established that on Nov.29, 2020 that you had forceful sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old victim, who was your neighbour.
“The medical evidence corroborate the violence nature of the act with medical doctor noting the hymenial laceration and your action has not only violated the prosecutrix bodily integrity, but also breaks the trust that exists between neighbour’s living in the same compound.”
He said the convict took advantage of the prosecutrix vulnerability to satisfy his sexual desires with a complete disregard for her well-being.
“The impact of your crime on the victim and her family cannot be overstated.
“The victim who should be focusing on her education and development had her life irrevocably altered by your action.
“She had to endure the trauma of the outcome of your action as well as the subsequent medical examination, police interviews and court proceedings.
“Her mother had to bear the pain of seeing her daughter suffer and the frustration of seeking justice for her,” he said.
Oshodi held that crime of that nature affected victims and their families entirely and the community at large.
He said the court must send a strong message that such animalistic and barbaric behaviour must not be tolerated in the society.
“Those who engage in such act will face full force of the law.
“In determining your sentence, I have considered plea for mercy against the gravity of your offence, the impact on the victim and her family, the breach of trust and the need to protect vulnerable members of the society.
“I have also considered that you continued to maintain that the sexual intercourse was consensual in spite of the clear evidence and the legal position that a child cannot consent to any sexual activities.
“Section 137 Supra prescribes a life imprisonment for the crime you have committed and accordingly, I sentence you to life imprisonment,” he said.
Oshodi reiterated that the sentence implied the seriousness of the crime and the need for deterrence to other sexual perpetrators.
The defence counsel, in his allocutus, had prayed for mercy and urged the court that the convict could still be useful to the society.
The State Counsel, Ms Inumidun Solarin, however, prayed the court to sentence the convict accordingly.
Solarin also urged the court that the full weight of law be slammed on Farouk to serve as deterrent to others.
She added that his name be registered in the Sexual Offences Register as maintained by the Lagos State Government.
NAN reports that the prosecution called four witnesses during trial through whom various exhibits were tendered, while the convict testified as a sole witness.
The prosecutor submitted that the convict committed the offence on Dec.29, 2020, on Sultan Bello Street, Owutu, Ikorodu. (NAN)
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
National
Nigeria Advocates for Collaborative Border Control Efforts with Sahel and West African Nations
Nigeria is seeking enhanced collaboration with Sahelian and West African nations to facilitate effective information and data sharing for improved border control measures.
During a press briefing on Tuesday at the Border Security Summit in London, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized the necessity for regional cooperation.
“There is a critical need for countries within the Sahel and West African subregions to collaborate more effectively for better international partnerships and information dissemination,” he stated.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the importance of proactive strategies to not only address ongoing issues but to prevent future occurrences. “The major takeaway from this summit is the emphasis on proactivity rather than mere reaction, as nations increasingly aim to criminalize irregular migration.”
He described the summit as a significant opportunity for border control ministers to collaborate in safeguarding their nations’ borders.
The minister pointed out that organized immigration crimes are not confined to individual countries but are a collective issue requiring shared solutions. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to combating border-related crimes through the implementation of effective strategies.
“Nigeria has developed a comprehensive border control solution, recognizing that we are not just a transit point. Our systems have been automated with numerous measures introduced to secure our borders and eradicate irregular migration,” he affirmed.
“We cannot afford to lose the battle before it begins, and we are confident that, through this summit, we can present a united front to effectively tackle this challenge,” Tunji-Ojo assured.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to enhancing its immigration policies and collaborating with global partners to combat transnational crimes, including human trafficking, smuggling, and document fraud.
According to NAN, the summit convened over 30 world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, to address significant issues related to border control and organized immigration crime (OIC). The event served as a platform for international cooperation on migration policies, security threats, and strategies to counter illegal immigration activities. (NAN)
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.