IKEJA — A Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a school proprietor, Benson Arinze, to life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a six-year-old pupil.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Abiola Soladoye following a full trial where Arinze was found guilty of a one-count charge of sexual assault by penetration. The convict was identified as the owner of Nurtured Brooks Nursery and Primary School, located in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

According to the state prosecution team, Arinze targeted the young victim on the school premises, routinely taking advantage of the quiet period after closing hours when the child stayed behind waiting to be picked up.

Discovery and Institutional Response

The institutional abuse came to light after the victim's mother noticed sudden changes in the child's behavior and physical well-being. Upon careful questioning, the survivor disclosed that she had been subjected to repeated sexual abuse by the proprietor within the school grounds.

Following the disclosure, the victim's father formally reported the matter to the Elemoro Division of the Nigeria Police Force, initiating a criminal investigation that led to Arinze's arrest and subsequent arraignment by the state government.

During the trial, the defense team brought forward several witnesses in an attempt to absolve the school owner. However, in her final evaluation, Justice Soladoye dismissed the defense's arguments entirely, ruling that the statements presented by Arinze’s witnesses were merely self-serving and completely failed to discredit the consistent, evidence-backed case put forward by the state.

Legal Implications and Accountability Registers

The prosecution successfully argued that Arinze’s actions directly contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. The court affirmed that the state had proven its criminal case beyond any reasonable doubt, mandating the maximum sentence to serve as a strict deterrent against child exploitation by educational custodians.

In addition to the life sentence, Justice Soladoye ordered that Benson Arinze’s name and biometric details be formally entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register. This mandate complies strictly with Sections 33 and 38 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) Law of 2021.

Following the verdict, the Lagos DSVA issued a public statement reinforcing its zero-tolerance policy regarding the abuse of minors. The agency commended the parents for their vigilance and urged members of the public to remain proactive in reporting structural or domestic abuse, emphasizing the ongoing collective need to break the culture of silence surrounding sexual violence.

The landmark judgment orders the perpetrator's name to be permanently entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.