Lagos Court Sentences Bricklayer to Life in Prison for Child Sexual Assault
A Lagos court has sentenced Azeez Shoderu, a bricklayer known as Chisco, to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his 8-year-old neighbor in Ajegunle. The court found the evidence against him overwhelming.
Azeez Shoderu, popularly known as "Chisco," has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for sexually assaulting his eight-year-old neighbor in a public toilet.
Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the judgment on Monday, ruling that the prosecution had convincingly proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Shoderu, a bricklayer squatting at 25 Ago-Hausa Street, Ajegunle, was convicted of defilement after a trial that featured damning medical and witness evidence.
The incident occurred on July 27, 2022, in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos. According to court testimony, the victim was urinating when Shoderu covered her mouth and assaulted her in the bathroom. The child’s testimony was consistent and corroborated by medical reports and police investigations.
Although Shoderu denied the charges and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on September 29, 2023, the court found his account inconsistent and lacking credibility.
“The evidence before this court is overwhelming,” Justice Oshodi stated. “The victim’s testimony, medical findings, and the police investigation all align. This court finds the defendant guilty as charged.”
The judge also emphasized that no child under 18 can legally give consent to sexual activity and noted that the emotional trauma inflicted on the victim could have lifelong effects.
As part of the ruling, Shoderu was ordered to be listed in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register, a public database for convicted sexual offenders.
Prosecuting counsel O.S. Dada presented three key witnesses, including the victim, a medical expert, and an investigative officer. Dada stressed that Shoderu exploited the child’s trust and vulnerability, adding, “A child should be safe in her own home and community.”
The defense team pleaded for leniency, noting that this was the defendant’s first recorded offense. However, Justice Oshodi dismissed the appeal, revealing that police investigations suggested this may not have been Shoderu’s first criminal act of this nature.
With the guilty verdict, Shoderu begins a life sentence—a judgment that underscores the court's commitment to protecting children and holding predators accountable.
