In a landmark ruling, a Lagos State court has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to a trader for the horrific defilement and abduction of his 13-year-old neighbour. The judgment, delivered by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, brings a measure of closure to a case that shocked a local community in Apapa.
The Crimes and The Court's Finding
Justice Rahman Oshodi found the defendant, Abdullahi Sale, guilty on two counts of defilement and abduction. The prosecution, led by the state government, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The offences violated Sections 137 and 268 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015.
The court heard that Sale, who lived in a room apartment on Agunbiade Street, Kirikiri Town, Apapa, lured the Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) student into his room. He then defiled her and held her captive in his apartment for a total of 11 days.
A Deceptive Search and A Harrowing Ordeal
During the trial, chilling details emerged. The survivor's mother testified that her daughter went missing after they returned from church. Shockingly, during the period the girl was missing, Sale repeatedly approached the family, pretending to be concerned and inquiring about her whereabouts, all while she was imprisoned in his room within the same compound.
The girl's freedom came when a naval officer found her sitting alone on the street and took her to a police station. She then led officers back to Sale's room, revealing her prison. She recounted being fed only instant noodles and being given containers for urination and defecation.
In her testimony in November 2022, the survivor stated she had never entered Sale's room before that fateful day. She described being locked inside a dark room for about a week.
Medical Evidence and The Convict's Defence
A nurse and midwife, Oluchi Nwoke, presented a medical report from the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) Centre in Yaba. The report documented significant vaginal discharge, bruising, and healed lacerations, though the hymen was intact. The medical conclusion was that the findings were consistent with forced vaginal penetration, indicating the child had been sexually assaulted twice during her captivity.
Abdullahi Sale denied the allegations, offering an alternative story. He claimed the girl approached him asking for N15,000 for an abortion, initially for a "friend" before allegedly admitting she was pregnant for a barber named Samuel.
Justice Oshodi completely rejected this testimony, dismissing it as "wholly incredible." He found it implausible, full of internal contradictions, and inconsistent with the facts proven by the prosecution.
The Judgment and Sentencing
The judge established that the girl was 13 years old at the time, legally a child under the Child Rights Law. He also confirmed the 11-day detention, stressing that a child cannot consent to such detention for sexual purposes.
Justice Oshodi condemned Sale's actions as "grievous," highlighting the betrayal of a neighbour's trust. He noted the added cruelty of Sale pretending to help search for the girl he was holding and abusing.
On December 19, 2025, the sentence was pronounced. "Abdullahi Sale, on Count one, the offence of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law, I sentence you to life imprisonment. On count two, the offence of abduction contrary to Section 268 of the same law, I sentence you to seven years' imprisonment," Justice Oshodi stated.
The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of his remand on September 17, 2021, meaning Sale will serve life imprisonment. Furthermore, the judge ordered that Sale's name be entered into the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register, as urged by the prosecution under the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law of 2021.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's severe stance on crimes against children and the use of legal instruments like the Sex Offenders Register to protect society.
