An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sentenced painter Sikiru Oluwasegun to life imprisonment on Tuesday for raping a 20-year-old Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) student.
Justice Rahman Oshodi found Oluwasegun guilty of raping the survivor (name withheld) without her consent on July 19, 2021, at 3:45 am in Ikorodu. The judge ruled in favor of the prosecution, which presented the defendant’s confessional statement as evidence.
Oshodi noted that Oluwasegun’s statement to the police met the criteria of the Supreme Court, being “direct, positive and unequivocal” in establishing his guilt. “The defendant in his confessional statement admitted to making his way into the room of the prosecutrix and raped her because he liked her but he could not tell her as she was new to the compound,” Oshodi said.
The judge detailed that Oluwasegun, a painter, lived in the same building as the survivor, a LASUSTECH student. The survivor reported the incident to the student union the next day, leading to the defendant’s arrest by the police.Oshodi recounted that Oluwasegun initially admitted the crime in a voluntary statement before the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who also visited the crime scene.
However, during the trial, the defendant claimed he was forced to sign the statement after being robbed and beaten by the police. Oshodi dismissed this claim, stating, “I do not believe the defendant when he said he was forced to sign the confessional statement.”
The judge emphasized that beyond the confession, evidence showed Oluwasegun had the opportunity to commit the crime. He was convicted of rape under Section 260 of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015.Asked if he had anything to say before sentencing, Oluwasegun pleaded for mercy.
Prosecutor Inumidun Solarin urged the court to impose a life sentence and register his name in the Lagos State sex offenders register, highlighting the lasting impact of his actions on the survivor.“ The effect of the action of the defendant would be long-lasting on the prosecutrix,” Solarin said.
Defense counsel had no additional statements. During sentencing, Oshodi criticized Oluwasegun’s “callous disregard for the victim’s fundamental human rights” and rejected his justification for the crime.“Being attracted to someone does not give you the right to force yourself on them. There is no justification for rape,” Oshodi stated.
He condemned Oluwasegun’s attempt to mislead the court, noting it demonstrated a lack of remorse and disregard for the rule of law.
Oshodi sentenced Oluwasegun to life imprisonment and ordered his return to the Medium Correctional Centre to serve his sentence. The prosecution called one witness, the IPO, while the defense presented three witnesses: Oluwasegun’s mother, the defendant himself, and a friend.
