Mr. Ekpo Lawrence was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court for defiling and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter.
The trial judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, said the prosecution diligently proved the ingredients of the charge of defilement that was proffered against Ekpo by the Lagos Government.
Commending the prosecution, the judge said that the evidence adduced by the prosecution has been consistent while that of the defendant has been inconsistent and manifestly unreliable.
Soladoye in the judgment noted that the denial of the 42-year-old father who was convicted on the allegations was a calculated attempt to mislead the court.
She held that, “The inglorious conduct of this defendant is dirty, scandalous and unpardonable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 and condemnable in all ramifications.
“The immoral behaviour of having sex with his own biological daughter is toxic, absolutely disgraceful and an abomination contrary to the law of nature. It is morally reprehensible as it is incest.
“Where is the self-respect of this defendant? How absolutely bizarre. Having sex with his daughter obviously took away his ability to make rational decisions. He foolishly tampered with the purity and self-esteem of his child.
“I pray for inner peace for the victim to relieve her of fear and hatred for her father who sexually molested her severally so that she can deal with her pains, trials and tribulations and go on to live a purpose driven life.
“A father should be a trusted person in the life of a child. He supposed to keep his child safe but betrayed her sexually he ripped purity off her body and her soul.”
“This is a taboo and he must no doubt face the music for his morbid, sordid sexual misconduct. For the above stated reasons, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of fine.
She said the incest came to light when the she confided in a social worker in her school about her father’s actions.
Dr. Maria Fadaka of the Mirabel Center (a Sexual Assault Referral Center) in her evidence, said that after examining the survivor, her findings had revealed evidence of vaginal penetration and early pregnancy.
