A former engineer with ExxonMobil, James Onuoha, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for raping his tenant’s niece.
The girl was aged 14 years at the time of the incident.
The sentence was handed down on Monday by Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.
Onuoha was alleged to have engaged in an unlawful sexual act with the victim without her consent on January 4, 2016, around 11.30a.m at No. 25 Samuel Amoore Street, Idowu Estate, Oke-Ira Nla, Ajah, Lagos.
He was first arraigned in January 2016 before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on four counts bordering on defilement contrary to sections 134 (2) and 135 (1), and punishable under sections 137 and 258 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
His case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), for advice and upon legal advice, the matter was then transferred to the high court for trial.
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During the trial, Onuoha who testified as a witness in his own case, told the court that he had visited to inspect the apartment rented by his tenant, one Kenneth.
He said that the tenant did not pick his calls and he decided to meet him at home.
According to him, when he got to the house, Kenneth was not in, but he was allowed into the apartment for inspection by the victim, who told him that she was 16.
He added that he did not rape the girl, but gave her N1,000 as a gift because it was Christmas period.
Onuoha was represented during trial by Victor Olowonla, who pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy in her judgment.
In her judgment, Justice Akintoye held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced Onuoha to 15 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
