A Lagos court has sentenced a teacher to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling a three-year-old student, in a case that has highlighted the growing concern over child sexual abuse in Nigeria.

The presiding judge delivered the verdict after determining that the evidence presented against the teacher was compelling, including the testimony of the young survivor who provided detailed accounts of the sexual assault.

"You descended so low by having oral sex with a three-year-old baby," the judge stated during sentencing. "You are everything a teacher should not be and you are barbaric."

The court found the defendant guilty on all three counts brought against him. He received life imprisonment on the first count, life imprisonment on the second count, and a seven-year jail term on the third count. The judge ordered that the sentences would run concurrently.

In addition to the prison terms, the judge ordered that the convict's name be added to the sex offenders registry, a measure aimed at protecting children from potential future abuse by flagging individuals with histories of sexual offenses against minors.

During the trial, the court noted that the convict attempted to distance himself from the charges but described him as "a pathological liar" whose denials could not withstand scrutiny against the evidence presented.

This case comes amid growing concerns about sexual violence against children in Nigeria. Recent reports indicate several similar cases across the country, including arrests in Katsina State where seven men were detained for allegedly raping four minors, and in Ebonyi State where a 43-year-old man was arrested for defiling an 8-year-old girl.

Child protection advocates have welcomed the sentencing, noting that such strict penalties send a strong message about the seriousness with which the judicial system is now treating crimes against children.