The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos has sentenced 65-year-old landlord Igwe Ambrose to double life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his tenant’s children.
Ambrose faced a four-count charge related to sexual assault by penetration and indecent treatment of a child.
The victims, aged 7 and 11, were subjected to the heinous acts at Shagari Estate, Ipaja, between January and June 2021, according to the court.
Judge Abiola Soladoye, in her verdict, declared Ambrose guilty, stating that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Soladoye said the victims identified the defendant and the evidence exposed him as a “bare-faced liar.”
She then described the landlord as a “dirty old man” who fingered and touched the breasts of the survivors on the pretext of helping them with their school assignments.
“The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses (survivors) were credible, as they cannot consent to being fingered by the landlord,” Judge Soladoye ruled.
“The defendant was identified as the assailant and their evidence were corroborated by their mother and the investigating police officer (IPO) who visited the crime scene and a clear account of the assault and indecent treatment was confirmed.”
The court then sentenced Ambrose to double life imprisonment for counts one and two, which involved the most severe charges.
“In respect to counts three and four which carry seven years jail term, the defendant is hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment on each of the count charge,” Judge Soladoye added.
The judge then mandated that Ambrose’s name be entered into the sexual offences register maintained by the Lagos state government.