Lagos Court Sentences Idris Ashimiyu To Life Imprisonment For Defiling 11-Year-Old Girl

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Lagos State has sentenced Idris Ashimiyu to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling an 11-year-old girl.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Justice Abiola Soladoye delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after ruling that the Lagos State Government had established its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

Ashimiyu had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge brought against him by the state government during his arraignment.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by A.A. Adeniyi, called one witness, the survivor, who told the court that she was 11 years old when the incident occurred and 13 at the time she testified.

The girl explained that she knew Ashimiyu because he helped residents of their compound with errands and car washing. According to her testimony, she was outside on the day of the incident when the defendant came upstairs, began touching her inappropriately and subsequently sexually assaulted her.

She further told the court that her grandmother discovered what had happened after going to look for her and finding her with Ashimiyu. The court also heard that the defendant was beaten before being taken to a police station.

In his defence, Ashimiyu’s lawyer, A.O. Ayode, called a witness identified as Ibrahim. The witness told the court that he knew the defendant but was not present when the alleged incident occurred because he had gone to work.

Ibrahim said he learnt about the incident from a neighbour and later heard Ashimiyu’s account of what had happened. According to the witness, the defendant claimed that he had not assaulted the child but had merely been playing with her.

After reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, Justice Soladoye said she had carefully considered the survivor’s age, the consistency of her testimony and the question of consent.

The judge described the girl’s account as credible and coherent, adding that the prosecution had established that she was a child at the time of the incident and had not consented to the sexual act.

Justice Soladoye also noted that Ashimiyu did not testify in his own defence. She subsequently ruled that the evidence before the court was sufficient to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

“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,” the judge said.

She added that the prosecution had successfully established the defendant’s guilt before finding him guilty as charged.

The court consequently sentenced Ashimiyu to life imprisonment and ordered that his name be entered in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

The judgment underscores the legal consequences of sexual offences against children and the importance of protecting minors from abuse.