Lagos sexual offenses court releases 23-year-old student accused of defiling his girlfriend

The Ikeja Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday released and acquitted Victory Tassie, a 23-year-old student who was accused of defiling his girlfriend.

In a judgment dated March 19 against a “no case” submission filed by defense lawyer Mrs. Lucayat Owolabi, Presiding Judge Abiola Soladoye ruled that the prosecution had not discharged the burden of proof of corruption against Tashie.

Soladoye ruled that the first witness called by the prosecution, Tassier's girlfriend, testified that Tassier was her boyfriend and that he did not rape her.

She ruled that the testimony of the alleged survivor of corruption, who had testified in court that she was not a minor when she conceived Tacey, was fundamental.

Tassie's alleged survivor girlfriend told the court that she was born on April 12, 2003.

“The defense filed a no-case filing dated March 19, asking the court to release and acquit the defendants, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove the corruption charges against the defendants.

“On February 8, the prosecution closed the case by only calling one witness (his girlfriend) and not calling any other witnesses.

“I have carefully considered the submissions of learned counsel and the court finds that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges of corruption against the defendant.

“I support the defendant's non-prosecution in this case. The defendant has no case to answer and he is hereby released and acquitted,” Judge Soladoye ruled.

According to the indictment, the Lagos state government accused Tassie of occasionally defiling the alleged survivor in January 2022, when she was 16 years old.

However, in testimony dated November 8, 2023, his girlfriend told the court that she was 19 years old when she became pregnant with Tassie, not 16 as the government claims.

She also admitted in court that Tacey did not rape her because they were in a relationship and the sex was consensual.

“I know the defendant. He is my boyfriend. I have come to this court to say that he did not rape me. I was 19, not 16, when I got pregnant. ,” she testified.

The prosecution had earlier submitted that the alleged crime was in violation of the Lagos State Penal Code, 2015.

Source: guardian.ng