From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 49-year-old man, Dele Adeyanju, to four years imprisonment without an option of fine.
The convict was arraigned for raping an 11-year-old girl in September, 2019 before Hon. Justice Bamidele Omotoso on one court charge of rape.
According to the charge, Dele Adeyanju, on 14th January, 2019 at Omuo Ekiti, in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, did rape an 11-year-old girl.
The offence contravenes Section 31 of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.
In her statement to the Police, the victim said, I am a Junior Secondary School One student, I came back from school on that day, after eating, I went out to hawk gaari as I used to do after school hours, when I got to the other street, one man called me and bought gaari worth N100, I bent down to carry my gaari container, he held me from back and covered my mouth with his hand, I struggled with him but he overpowered me, he carried me to his room, he removed my pant forcefully, I was shouting and crying, he asked me to stop shouting when I refused, he used towel to cover my mouth and forcefully had sex with me, thereafter, I started bleeding seriously, when I got home, I did not tell my parents because I was afraid of what they would do to me, but when I could not bear the pain, I explained to my mother. My mother took me to the Police station in Omuo Ekiti to report the case and was later taken to hospital for medical treatment and attention, she concluded.
In her testimony, the victim’s mother said, when I saw my daughter after searching for a long time, she was not wearing pant and had blood stains on her clothes.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Barrister Akinola Abon called four witnesses and tendered statement of the defendant and a medical report as exhibits, while the defendant spoke through his counsel Femi Ariyo and called no witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, I resolved the sole issue in favour of the prosecution and against the defendant.
Finally, I hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the allegation of rape against the defendant.
He is accordingly convicted as charged.
Consequently, the defendant, Dele Adeyanju is hereby sentenced to four years imprisonment, without an option of fine.
The term of the imprisonment shall begin to run from 17th of March, 2021 when his bail was revoked by this honorable court and was ordered to be remanded in custody of the Nigeria Correctional Center, Ado Ekiti.