Photo: The convict in court
An Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced a 54-year-old pastor, Michael Oliseh, to life imprisonment for defiling his friend’s 12-year-old twin daughters.
Delivering judgement, Justice Abiola Soladoye, described Oliseh, the assistant Pastor of the Anointed Chosen Vessel Ministry in Okota, Lagos, as a “serial rapist” who took turns defiling his friend’s daughters.
She held that the prosecution had convincingly proved the charge of defilement against Oliseh beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge sentenced Oliseh to life imprisonment on the two-count charge bordering on defilement.
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 of the two offences, the defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
“The sentences shall run concurrently.
“He should have his name entered in the Sex Offenders Register of the Lagos State Government.”
Soladoye also cautioned the parents of the survivors for lack of discipline by sending the survivors to stay with the defendant.
“Parents of the survivors lack discipline and ought not to send the children to go stay in the defendant’s house.
“Children are not to be entrusted with rowdy adults. They should be kept in the hands of responsible adults who have their goodwill at heart.
“The need for responsible parenting cannot be overemphasized,” the judge said.
According to prosecution counsel, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke, the convict committed the crimes sometimes in November 2017 in Ago, Okota, Lagos.
Adegoke said the defendant defiled the survivors after their father entrusted them in his care and traveled to the village for burial.
She said that the defendant threatened the survivors that their father would become jobless if they told anyone about the sexual encounter.
She also submitted that the defendant was caught by one of the neighbours after he chased one of the survivors in the compound and dragged her with her pant.
The prosecution said the offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
