On 28 October 2026, the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court handed a life‑sentence to Idris Ashimiyu for the defilement of an 11‑year‑old girl, concluding a high‑profile criminal trial in Lagos State.
Key details of the case include:
- The conviction was delivered by Justice Abiola Soladoye.
- The survivor testified that she was 11 at the time of the assault and 13 when she gave evidence.
- The prosecution was led by A.A. Adeniyi on behalf of the Lagos State Government.
- The judge ordered the offender’s name to be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.
- Ashimiyu did not present any defence testimony of his own.
What charge was proven?
The court found Ashimiyu guilty of a single count of defilement, a statutory offence that criminalises sexual activity with a child under the age of 18. The prosecution’s case rested on the survivor’s consistent account and corroborating circumstantial evidence.
How did the survivor describe the incident?
During testimony, the girl recounted that Ashimiyu, who regularly helped with errands and car washing in her compound, entered her bedroom, touched her inappropriately and then inserted his genitalia. She added that her grandmother discovered the assault while searching for her and that the perpetrator was beaten before being taken to police custody.
What defence was offered?
Ashimiyu’s counsel, A.O. Ayode, called a single witness named Ibrahim, who said he knew the accused but was not present during the alleged act because he was at work. Ibrahim claimed Ashimiyu had told him the encounter was merely “playing” with the child, not an assault.
Why did the judge reject the defence?
Justice Soladoye noted that the accused chose not to testify, and that the survivor’s testimony was both credible and coherent. She emphasized the importance of the victim’s age, the consistency of her narrative, and the lack of consent, concluding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
In delivering the sentence, the judge stated, “I have carefully considered the testimonies and other evidence before this court, including the age of the survivor, the consistency of her testimony and the issue of consent. I find the testimony of the survivor credible and coherent. The prosecution has established that she was a child at the time of the incident and that she did not consent to the sexual act. I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. I therefore find Ashimiyu guilty as charged.”
The judgment also mandated that Ashimiyu’s name be entered into the [Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register](https://lagosstate.gov.ng/sexual-offenders- register), ensuring public awareness of his conviction.
This case underscores the Lagos judiciary’s commitment to enforcing strict penalties for sexual crimes against minors and highlights the procedural rigor applied in such prosecutions.