A 25-year-old graphic designer, Abodurin Apelogun, has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old girl during the COVID-19 lockdown in Lagos.

Justice Rahman Oshodi of a Lagos Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sentenced Apelogun after finding him guilty of one count bordering on defilement brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

The prosecution alleged that Apelogun, on or about June 19, at 48 A Oil Mill Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, had unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

His offence Is contrary to the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

However, Apelogun had pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was first arraigned on October 7, 2020, and later re-arraigned on May 29, 2025.

The prosecution commenced the trial and called seven witnesses who testified, including the survivor as the first prosecution witness (PW1).

In her testimony, she narrated that the defendant usually knocks at their door whenever she is alone in her apartment, when her parents are not at home and takes her to the kitchen and puts his fingers into her vagina.

?He used to rape me, press me against the kitchen wall facing our own bathroom,? she said.

The survivor, who described the structure of the house as a ?face me, I face you? public compound, noted that the defendant was their neighbour and co-tenant.

The second prosecution witness, the survivor?s father (PW 2), testified during the trial that he discovered when interrogating the children whether anyone had touched them, and the survivor stated that the defendant used to rape her in the kitchen.

He said he Immediately went to their apartment with his daughter to identify the very person among the people living in the house, and she pointed at the defendant.

?I gave him a blow on his face, and his elder brother intervened. Later, I reported the matter to Lion Building Police Station on June 19, 2020. The DPO gave us a form for a forensic test at Island Maternity Hospital and later at Mirabel Centr,? he said.

He further told the court that during the trial, the family were coming to beg him for forgiveness so that he could withdraw the case.

However, while delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution had proven and established the one-count charge of defilement against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge held that there was circumstantial evidence, and medical evidence from Mirabel Centre (Exhibit C to C1) contained comprehensive documentation.

?The survivor ?s evidence was consistent and corroborates beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had sexual intercourse with her,? he said.

The judge said to the defendant, ?You showed no remorse and have constantly maintained a complete denial of the allegation. Your plea for mercy cannot outweigh the gravity of the offence because defilement causes life trauma in children.?

The judge therefore pronounced him guilty as charged and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The prosecution counsel, O.O Ojedele, holding the brief for Babajide Boye, prayed the court to register the convict?s name in the Sexual Offenders Register.

Justice Rahman therefore ordered that his name should be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register. He further ordered that he be remanded to a maximum correctional facility, as he had been previously remanded to a medium correctional facility during the trial. (The Guardian)

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