An Ikeja S£xual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a herbalist, Segun Shina, to 14 years in prison for attempting to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl suffering from epilepsy.
Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the judgment on Tuesday after Shina pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge under a plea bargain agreement. The herbalist had initially denied the charges but later changed his plea.
The judge emphasized that the original charge carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, condemning Shina for exploiting the child’s vulnerability under the guise of providing treatment.
“You betrayed the trust placed in you as a traditional healer,” Justice Oshodi stated.
The court ruled that Shina’s sentence would be effective from November 16, 2018, the date of his arrest.
Additionally, he was barred from any direct or indirect contact with the victim’s family, and his name was ordered to be registered as a sex offender.
Shina was first arraigned on April 4, 2021, on charges of defilement brought by the Lagos State Government.
The prosecution, led by State Counsel Bukola Okeowo, presented strong evidence, including testimonies from the survivor’s mother and an investigating officer.
The victim’s mother recounted how she had taken her daughter to the herbalist for treatment, unaware of his intentions.
The offence violated Section 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.