Accused Re-Arraigned in Lagos State High Court Over Alleged Abuse of 14-Year-Old as Global Child Protection Concerns Deepen
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Aka-Bashorun Olawale Akanni, has been re-arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, for the alleged indecent treatment of a 14-year-old girl.
The Lagos State Government re-filed a one-count charge accusing Akanni of unlawfully fondling the child’s breasts in the Iwaya area of Lagos, an offence said to contravene Section 135 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty, and while the defence requested that the bail earlier granted by a Magistrate’s Court be maintained, the prosecution objected. Justice Oshodi upheld the previous bail conditions and ordered the defendant to appear unfailingly at all future proceedings.
During the hearing, the complainant now 27 years old testified that she met the accused through her father, a member of his church. She said she moved into the defendant’s home at around age eight to improve academically and join the church choir but instead suffered repeated sexual and physical abuse.
She said she eventually fled and reported the matter years later, lodging a formal complaint in 2023 after learning of a similar case involving another child in the same community.
The defence sought an adjournment to obtain certified records of earlier testimony, which the court granted on the condition that the defence pay ₦50,000 in costs to the witness. The trial was adjourned to December 9, 2025, for continuation.
A Broader Crisis Beyond the Courtroom
This case, though local, echoes a global crisis, the rising wave of child sexual abuse and gender-based violence that continues to shatter young lives and undermine trust in homes, schools, and faith communities.
UN agencies report that one in ten children worldwide experiences some form of sexual violence before the age of 18, often perpetrated by trusted adults. Many of these cases go unreported due to stigma, silence, or fear of retaliation.
Advocates warn that protecting children requires not just punishment for offenders but stronger safeguarding systems, early detection mechanisms, and community vigilance to prevent abuse before it happens.
Every child, regardless of background, has the right to grow up safe, respected, and free from harm. Protecting that right is not just a legal duty, it is a moral and collective responsibility that defines our humanity.
