By Adesakin Adefemi
The Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode has sentenced Emmanuel Obirija to life imprisonment after convicting him of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Justice Catherine Ogunsanya delivered the judgment on June 18, 2026.
Court records indicate the case was first reported on December 2, 2022, at the Ogun State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, located at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. The matter was subsequently investigated and prosecuted at the High Court in Ijebu-Ode.
Following trial, the court found Obirija guilty of the offence and imposed a life sentence. The conviction is among recent high-profile Gender-Based Violence, GBV, cases concluded in the state.
Former Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adeleye, has acknowledged the court’s decision. She stated that the judgment reflects the judiciary’s role in addressing crimes against children and vulnerable persons.
Adeleye, who is also the All Progressives Congress candidate for Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, said the verdict may strengthen public confidence in the judicial process. She noted that it could encourage survivors of GBV and their families to pursue justice.
The former commissioner also highlighted the contributions of multiple institutions in the prosecution. These include SARC, healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, social workers, and child protection advocates.
Adeleye stated that the collective effort of the stakeholders demonstrated the importance of coordinated responses in tackling sexual and gender-based violence across Ogun State.
She added that the outcome underscores the need for collaboration among government agencies, health institutions, security agencies, and civil society groups in ensuring justice for survivors.
The case concludes a prosecution that began with a report at SARC Sagamu in 2022 and ended with a life sentence in Ijebu-Ode in 2026, marking a significant development in Ogun’s response to sexual offences involving minors.
