A man, Ahmed Ayinla, was on Wednesday sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, for attempting to sexually assault his nine-year-old stepdaughter, (name withheld).
The court handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that he was satisfied that the convict understood the nature of the plea bargain agreement.
He said: “I must emphasise the gravity of the circumstances that have brought you before this court as you were initially charged with the more serious offence of defilement, which carries the prescribed punishment of life imprisonment under the criminal law.
“The evidence before this court revealed a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse perpetrated against your nine-year-old stepdaughter over an extended period.
“The survivor testified that these incidents were ‘uncountable’ in number whilst she was under your care and protection and medical evidence confirmed physical injuries consistent with repeated penetration.
“This was not an isolated incident, but a sustained campaign of sexual exploitation against a vulnerable child who looked up to you as ‘daddy’ and the relationship of trust that existed between you and her cannot be understated.”
The judge also held that the convict occupied a position of authority and responsibility towards the survivor’s welfare and that he violated that sacred trust in the most egregious manner possible.
He said: “The survivor was living under your roof, dependent upon you for her basic needs, vulnerable to your predatory behaviour and you exploited this dependency and satisfied your sexual gratification, causing immeasurable harm to an innocent child.
“However, through the plea bargain process, you have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of attempt to commit sexual assault by penetration under Section 262, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.
“This plea represents an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and I hereby sentence you to 14 years imprisonment, commencing on September 18, 2020, being the date of your remand in custody.
“Your name shall be registered as a sexual offender.”
The convict was initially arraigned on the charge of defilement in which the State Counsel, Ms Bukola Okeowo, had presented three witnesses against the convict, but later opted for a plea bargain, which led to the amended charge and subsequent sentencing.
The prosecutor, however, informed the court on June 10, 2025, that the convict had opted for a plea bargain agreement which necessitated the amended charge.
Credit: punchng.com
