Lagos Court Sentences Two Men to 15 Years Imprisonment for Flogging 12-Year-Old Housemaid to Death
An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has handed down a 15-year prison sentence to each of two men convicted for the tragic death of a 12-year-old housemaid. The convicts, Edidiong Edem, a 22-year-old painter, and Alex Effiong-Etim, a 21-year-old mechanic, received their sentences after entering a plea bargain on an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Justice Delivered in Landmark Case
Delivering judgment on Thursday, March 12, 2026, Justice Abiola Soladoye found the duo guilty and imposed a 15-year custodial sentence on each defendant. The court ruled that the punishment would take effect from the date the convicts were first remanded in a correctional facility, ensuring no time served is overlooked.
The case revealed that the men flogged the young victim with a broom, an assault that ultimately led to her death. Initially arraigned on February 25, 2022, Edem and Effiong-Etim pleaded not guilty to the charges but later opted for a plea bargain agreement dated February 25, which resulted in the amended charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecution Details the Tragic Incident
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by state counsel Oluwaseun Adewoye, informed the court that the offence occurred in January 2022 at Military Estate in the Eleko area of Lagos State. According to the prosecution, the convicts recklessly flogged the girl on her legs with a broom, inflicting injuries that later became infected with tetanus and eventually caused her death.
The prosecution further stated that the offence contravened Section 224 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, highlighting the legal framework under which the case was prosecuted. This ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to addressing domestic violence and protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly children, in Nigeria.
