An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday sentenced herbalist Segun Shina to 14 years imprisonment for attempting to sexually assault a 10-year-old epileptic girl who was brought to him for treatment. Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the sentence after Shina accepted a plea bargain agreement, changing his initial not guilty plea to guilty on an amended one-count charge of attempted sexual assault.
“I must emphasize that the original charge carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,” Justice Oshodi stated during sentencing.
“You exploited a vulnerable child who sought healing for epilepsy, betraying the trust placed in you as a traditional healer.”
The court ordered that the sentence take effect from November 16, 2018, when Shina was first arrested. Additionally, the judge mandated that Shina have no contact with the survivor’s family upon release and that his name be registered in the sex offender database as required by law.
The case began when the child’s mother brought her daughter to Shina seeking treatment for epilepsy. According to court testimony, Shina exploited this vulnerability instead of providing the healing services the family sought. Initially arraigned on April 4, 2021, on more serious defilement charges, the prosecution presented evidence from two witnesses—the survivor’s mother and a police investigator—before the plea bargain was arranged.
