An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a Muslim cleric (Alfa), Alani Rafiu, to life imprisonment for raping a 14 –year- old girl inside a mosque.

Justice Rahman Oshodi handed down the sentence on Monday after finding Rafiu guilty of the offence of child defilement.

Rafiu was arraigned on October 28, 2021, for having sexual intercourse with the teenager.

The incident occurred on August 17, 2021, in Ikotun area of Lagos State.

However, the convict pleaded not guilty to the charge. Thus, the trial started with the prosecution, led by B. Boye, with I. D. Solarin calling three witnesses, including the victim, who testified against the convict.

While delivering the judgment, Oshodi held that the prosecution was able to discharge its burden of proof that the convict defiled the teenager.

The judge held that the gravity of the convict’s offence could not be overstated, as he betrayed the trust placed in him as a religious instructor and family friend.

“The gravity of your offence cannot be overstated. You betrayed the trust placed in you as a religious instructor and family friend.

“Instead of nurturing and protecting a vulnerable 14-year-old child entrusted to your spiritual care, you repeatedly sexually abused her in a place of worship.

“This conduct is criminal and represents a profound violation of secular and religious principles,” he said.

Oshodi further held that the evidence revealed a calculated pattern of predatory behaviour, as the convict deliberately isolated the child, exploited her vulnerability, and bought her silence with money.

“The evidence revealed a calculated pattern of predatory behaviour. You deliberately isolated the child, exploited her vulnerability, and bought her silence with money.

“The evidence revealed a calculated pattern of predatory behaviour. You deliberately isolated the child, exploited her vulnerability, and bought her silence with money.

“The physical and psychological trauma inflicted on this young girl is immeasurable.  At an age when she should have been focused on her education and development, she was subjected to experiences that no child should endure,” the judge held.

Oshodi also stated that having carefully considered all the evidence before the court, there was compelling and consistent proof establishing that the prosecutrix was indeed a child below the age of 18 years at the time of the alleged offence in May 2021.

He said the evidence manifested through multiple sources.

Oshodi said, “When the prosecutrix testified before this court, she stated that she was 15 years old and 14 when the alleged incident occurred.

“Notably, she was still attending primary school then, explicitly saying she was in Primary 3.

“The prosecutrix’s educational level, being in Primary 3, at the time of her testimony, while not determinative of age, provides supporting circumstantial evidence consistent with her being a young teenager rather than an adult.

“The consistency of these multiple sources of evidence – the police and guardian testimony, the prosecutrix’s evidence, and circumstantial evidence – all converge to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the prosecutrix was 14 years old at the time of the alleged offence in May 2021.

“The defence led no evidence to contradict these age-related facts, nor was the prosecutrix’s age challenged during cross-examination of any of the prosecution witnesses”.

The judge said the prosecutrix provided a detailed, firsthand account of sexual intercourse with the convict.

                Source: Punch Newspaper