Alani Rafiu, a Muslim cleric (Alfa), has been condemned to life in jail for raping a 14-year-old girl inside a mosque.
Justice Rahman Oshodi imposed the punishment on Monday after finding Rafiu guilty of child defilement.
Rafiu was charged on October 28, 2021, with having sexual relations with the minor.
The incident happened on August 17, 2021, in the Ikotun region of Lagos State. However, the inmate pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial began with the prosecution, led by B. Boye, and I. D. Solarin summoning three witnesses, including the victim, to testify against the convict.
Oshodi ruled that the prosecution met its burden of proving that the convict defiled the teenager.
The judge emphasised the gravity of the convict’s offence, stating that he betrayed his trust as a religious instructor and family friend.
“The physical and psychological trauma inflicted on this young girl is immeasurable. At an age when she should have been focused on her education and development, she was subjected to experiences that no child should endure,” the judge held.
Oshodi further claimed that after carefully reviewing all of the evidence presented in court, there was overwhelming and consistent evidence demonstrating that the prosecutrix was definitely a child under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offence in May 2021.
He stated that the evidence manifested through multiple sources.
Oshodi said, “When the prosecutrix testified before this court, she stated that she was 15 years old and 14 when the alleged incident occurred.
“Notably, she was still attending primary school then, explicitly saying she was in Primary 3.
“The prosecutrix’s educational level, being in Primary 3, at the time of her testimony, while not determinative of age, provides supporting circumstantial evidence consistent with her being a young teenager rather than an adult.
“The consistency of these multiple sources of evidence—the police and guardian testimony, the prosecutrix’s evidence, and circumstantial evidence—all converge to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the prosecutrix was 14 years old at the time of the alleged offence in May 2021.
“The defence led no evidence to contradict these age-related facts, nor was the prosecutrix’s age challenged during cross-examination of any of the prosecution witnesses.”.
The judge stated that the prosecutrix provided a detailed, firsthand account of sexual intercourse with the convict.
“Her testimony was specific. She offered a detailed, sequential account of the sexual assault. She testified that at the mosque (where the convict, whom she referred to as Alfa), isolated her. He would then lock the door, remove her underwear, and instruct her to lie on the floor.
“She explicitly stated that Rafiu would then insert his penis into her vagina. When asked about frequency, she confirmed this occurred three times.
“She further testified that these acts would result in bleeding, which the convict would have her clean with a handkerchief. Afterwards, he would instruct her to put her underwear back on before taking her outside,” he said.
According to Oshodi, this testimony provides a firsthand account of penile-vaginal penetration, with particular details regarding the order of events, location, frequency, and aftermath of the sexual activities.
“The prosecutrix maintained during cross-examination that this occurred three times, explicitly stating, “He had sex with me three times.”
The judge remarked that the prosecutor’s testimony remained consistent even when questioned about the timeframe, indicating that these instances occurred.
He stated that the medical findings supported the evidence of sexual intercourse.
It states that the transection discovered in the prosecutrix’s vagina was “consistent with forceful penetrative injury to the [prosecutrix’s] anus and vagina.”.
Before passing down the verdict, Oshodi said, “What makes your conduct particularly egregious is your abuse of religious authority and the sacred space of a mosque to perpetrate these violations.
Before passing down the verdict, Oshodi said, “What makes your conduct particularly egregious is your abuse of religious authority and the sacred space of a mosque to perpetrate these violations.
“Places of worship should be sanctuaries of safety and spiritual growth, not venues for the exploitation of children.
“The medical evidence and the prosecutrix’s testimony paint a disturbing picture of the physical harm you caused.
“The bleeding she experienced and your callous provision of a handkerchief to clean up the evidence of your abuse demonstrate a shocking disregard for her well-being.
“This court must protect children from sexual predators and send a clear message that such conduct will be met with the full force of the law.
“The sentence must reflect society’s abhorrence of child sexual abuse and serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate similar crimes.
“The sentence must reflect society’s abhorrence of child sexual abuse and serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate similar crimes.
