63-Year-Old Lagos Cleric Gets Life Imprisonment for Raping Church Member’s Daughter

An Ikeja court has sentenced a 63-year-old cleric to life imprisonment for raping the daughter of a church member.

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court delivered the judgment on Thursday, declaring that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The cleric was found guilty on three counts of rape. The judge said the defendant abused his position of authority and trust to exploit the victim, describing the act as a reprehensible betrayal.

The court dismissed the cleric’s claim that the relationship was consensual, stating that the evidence clearly supported the rape charge.

“The law must protect the vulnerable, and this court will not hesitate to punish abuse of trust in the strongest terms,” Justice Oshodi said.

The prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Babajide Martins, called five witnesses, including the victim, her mother, and a medical doctor. Medical and documentary evidence were also presented.

The judge ruled that the combination of eyewitness accounts and expert medical evidence was critical in establishing the facts of the case.

The cleric was sentenced to life imprisonment on all three counts, with the sentences to run concurrently. The court also ordered that his name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.