A lesson teacher identified as Mr. Joseph Ibanga has been sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling and impregnating a 14-year-old girl left in his care to  mentor and groom her academically.

The defendant who had no witness and spoke in his own defence at the trial, committed the offence between January and March 2019 at No.12, Iresi Street, Orile-Agege, Lagos.

He however raped the minor where she lived with her aunt whenever he went to teach her. She subsequently became pregnant and had a baby.

Ruling on the case on Monday June 6, 2022, Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and S*xual Offences Court said said the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against the convict.

Soladoye added:

“The survivor was a minor and her consent is immaterial. The evidence before the court showed that the defendant had s*x with the victim in her home and in the defendant’s own matrimonial home. She subsequently became pregnant and had a baby.

“The medical report corroborated the evidence against the defendant. The defendant is responsible for the act and there is evidence before the court to prove same.

“The survivor identified the defendant as her lesson teacher and the person who had s*xual intercourse with her without her consent.

“The defendant is very ungrateful and wicked, ravished the student with impunity and taught her n******e. Ibanga has brought ridicule to the teaching profession and this punishment will serve as a lesson to him and warning to others.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged based on the avalanche of evidence against him, and he is sentenced to life imprisonment.”

The judge also ordered that the convict should have his name entered into the register of s*xual offenders of Lagos State.