A child predator, Victor Dickson, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of defiling his neighbor’s six-month-old infant.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court handed down the verdict.
Beyond the life sentence, Dickson’s name will be officially recorded in the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register, pursuant to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law of 2021.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi affirmed that the prosecution successfully proved the charge of sexual assault by penetration beyond a reasonable doubt, relying on “compelling” circumstantial evidence.
The judge dismissed Dickson’s defense as unconvincing, rejecting his attempts to distance himself from the assault.
The court highlighted the victim’s extreme vulnerability, noting the mother’s testimony that Dickson snatched the infant and took her into his room while the mother was preoccupied with chores outside.
“You betrayed the trust reposed in you. The child cried throughout but could not call for help,” Justice Oshodi declared.
“Such acts are animalistic, and the sentence serves to protect society and deter similar crimes.”
Dickson’s actions violated Section 261 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, a serious offense that led the court to call for an end to the “culture of silence.”
The judge remarked that such silence only serves to protect predators and further endanger vulnerable children.
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