Sexual Violence – Lagos State Ministry of Justice

Lagos High Court Sentences Baba Ijesha To 16 Years Imprisonment

Posted on July 15, 2022

A State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday, 14th of July has sentenced Olanrewaju James aka Baba Ijesha to 16years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 14year old girl. Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the State High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division delivered judgement in the case of STATE OF LAGOS VS OLANREWAJU JAMES (A.K.A BABA IJESHA). The defendant was earlier arraigned before the Court on the 24th of June, 2021 on a six (6) count charge of * Sexual assault by penetration (2014) * Indecent treatment of a child * Sexual assault of (2011) * Indecent treatment of a child (2015) * Sexual assault (2015) * Attempted sexual assault by penetration (2021) The Directorate of Pubic Prosecutions argued that the offences violated Sections 259, 135 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 respectively; Sections 135, 263 and 262 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 respectively. The Prosecution presented 6 witnesses who testified against the defendant and tendered various evidence to corroborate the testifiers before the Court. The presiding judge, Hon. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo held that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of sexual assault of a minor and indecent treatment of a minor against the defendant. The judge, however, discharged and acquitted him of count one and six which were sexual assault by penetration (which took place in 2014) and attempted sexual assault by penetration, which took place in 2021). The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment for count two (2), three years for count three (3), five years for count four (4) and three years for count five (5) taking effect from today, 14th of July, 2022. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Lagos State Government Commences Town Hall Community Engagements On Sexual and Gender Based Violence

Posted on February 9, 2022

In a bid to address the rising cases of domestic and sexual violence in the State, the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, (DSVA)on Tuesday held its maiden town hall Local Government meeting tagged ‘Its on Us to End Sexual and Gender Based Violence’ at Surulere Local Government as well as Coker AGUDA and Itire Ikate LCDA. The meeting had in attendance over 300 stakeholders drawn from community Development Councils, Community Development Authorities, Market men and Women, religious leaders, community leaders, artisans, captains of industries as well as other relevant stakeholders. According to the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the concept of the Town Hall meeting is to decentralise services and ensure that residents of the State irrespective of their location, be it in the inner cities, urban and rural areas are aware of the existence of the relevant laws as well as the support services available to them, these according to her include medical, social services and partner NGOs in their communities. She added that the purpose of the community outreach is to solidify its partnership with Local governments as well as creation of a community response teams who would serve as first responders, thereby opening up the referral pathway for survivors desirous of accessing justice. Vivour-Adeniyi added that this year DSVA is more committed to ensuring that the present administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu’s zero tolerance declaration to all forms of Domestic and Sexual Violence is attained. On his own part, the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Dosunmu Adewale assured participants of the Local Government’s zeal and desire in ensuring all relevant stakeholders collaborate and rid out the menace of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) out of the State. The Executive Chairman of Coker AGUDA Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ibrahim Rasaq Lekan also reiterated the same. Dr. Veronica Iwayemi of the Primary Health Care Board as well as DSP Abimbola Williams of the Lagos State Police Command, enlightened participants on issues related to SGBV and informed them of community resources available at their disposal. The town hall meeting is to be held in all the LGAs as well as LCDAs across the State.

NGOs and Lagos State Government Step Up Partnership To Proactively Address Sexual And Gender Based Violence.

Posted on January 27, 2022

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme organised a roundtable Ddscussion with non-governmental organizations in a bid to strengthen the existing synergy and collaboration between DSVA and the NGO’s.. The meeting which took place on the 26th of January, 2021 was held at Pearlwort Hotel & Suites, Alausa, Ikeja and had in attendance the Executive Secretary of DSVA, a representative from ROLAC and thirty representatives of the Non-Governmental Organizations whose thematic areas are sexual violence in Lagos State. In her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour –Adeniyi, stated that for transparency and accountability purposes, it was important to brief partner NGOs on the yearly report of activities of the agency. Whilst presenting the scorecard of the agency, the Executive Secretary discussed the activities organized by the agency from January to December, 2021 as she further enlightened the participants on the various interventions of the State Government and also highlighted the data in the year under review. According to her, the Agency had provided services to 3943 survivors, 2721 adults and 1222 children. Furthermore, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikeja, Ikorodu and Eti Osa Local Governments had recorded the highest reporting of occurrence of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the State. At the round table discussion, Non-Governmental Organizations were also given an opportunity to share the successes and challenges encountered in the past year. The common challenges highlighted by the representatives were lack of funding of the NGOs, institutional challenges and withdrawal of cases by some of the victims. A common highlight and success story recorded by the NGos was the fruitful sensitization programmes held at schools, markets and communities to raise awareness against domestic and sexual violence. Whilst responding to the concerns raised, Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi reiterated the state government’s zero tolerance to all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence by the Governor Sanwo-Olu Administration . The representatives of the Non- Governmental Organizations were urged to continue to be proactive in the fight against Domestic and Sexual violence in Lagos State.

Lagos Court Sentences Trader to 25 Years Imprisonment for Rape

Posted on June 30, 2021

A Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja, on Friday, 25th June, 2021 sentenced a 43year old trader, Adelaja Oloyede, to 25 years imprisonment for raping a tailor at Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Justice Abiola Soladoye delivered the judgement in suit no ID/8849C/19 between the State of Lagos vs Adelaja Oloyede. The defendant was earlier arraigned on 10th of April, 2019 by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice on a one- count charge of rape. Adelaja Oloyede who pleaded not guilty committed the crime of rape in 2017 at his residence on No. 2, Adelaja Str. Ikorodu, Lagos . The Prosecuting team led by Olusola Soneye, a deputy director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions said the victim, apart from being raped was sexually harrassed and coaxed to insert some fetish substance into her private part. He added that the victim who was a virgin before the incident pleaded with the defendant during the rape incident, but her plea fell on deaf ears. ” The defendant overpowered her, tore her underwear and raped her. As a result of the rape the victim fell ill and was treated in Kwara State”, Prosecuting Counsel, Olusola noted. The Prosecuting team presented before the court four Witnesses; the victim, her sister, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and a Medical doctor. The Prosecution also tendered the victim’s blood- stained underwear and a black- tie as exhibits to the Court. According to the victim, the defendant, forcefully had sexual intercourse with her and inserted a fetish substance in her private part afterwards. “I was on my way to church on the day of the incident, Oloyede shook my hands and thereafter I followed him to his house, where he led me into a room where there was numerous fetish items” “He asked me to kneel and he made several incantations” the victim explained. The victim told the court that she reported the crime to the authorities immediately after she left the defendant’s residence. Justice Abiola Soladoye found the defendant guilty of the charge of rape contrary to section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. She said that the Prosecution team had proved its case against the defendant beyond all reasonable doubts. Consequently, the defendant having been found guilty of the charge of rape was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Court. The Judge further ordered that Oloyede Adelaja should be registered as a Sex Offender in the Lagos State Sex Offender’s Register.