Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos State Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court in Ikeja yesterday convicted and sentenced a 54-year-old clergyman, Michael Oliseh, to life imprisonment for defiling his friend’s 12-year-old twin daughters.
Justice Soladoye jailed Oliseh after she found him guilty of a two-count charge of defilement brought against him by the state government.
The prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olufunke Adegoke had told the court that the convict committed the crimes sometime in November 2017 in Ago, near Okota, a suburb of Lagos.
Adegoke claimed that the convict defiled the survivors after their father had entrusted them in his care and travelled to the village for a burial.
The prosecutor had further stated that the convict then threatened the survivors that their father would become jobless if they told anyone about the sexual harassment.
She also informed the court that the convict was caught by one of the neighbours after he had chased one of the survivors in the compound and dragged her with her pants.
The prosecution had insisted that the offences violated Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
In her judgment, Justice Soladoye described Oliseh, who was the assistant Pastor of the Anointed Chosen Vessel Ministry in Okota, Lagos, as a “serial rapist” who took turns defiling his friend’s daughters.
The judge held that the prosecution had convincingly proved the charges of defilement against Oliseh beyond any reasonable doubt.
She said, “The testimony of the defendant portrayed him as a serial rapist who took turns to defile the survivors.
“What a disloyal and untrustworthy pastor, who shamelessly and audaciously had sexual intercourse with his friend’s children who were entrusted in his care.
“His conduct is unbecoming of a pastor
“Having been found guilty as charged with the two offences, the defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.’’