By Oludamisi Ojo
A commercial cyclist, Ojo Adebayo,31, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital for raping a nine -year old girl.
The defendant was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on rape before, Justice Olalekan Olatawura in March 2022.
According to the charge ” the defendant on 8th of October, 2021 at Ilogbo Ekiti in Ido/Osi LGA of Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did rape a nine-year-old girl, contrary to section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012″
In his judgment on Wednesday, Justice Olalekan Olatawura, said: ‘‘identification of the defendant by the victim as the person who raped her is not only compelling but credible, same not having been discredited under cross examination and therefore not mistaken’.
” In all, I find the case well established and proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution that the defendant and no other person used his penis to penetrate the vagina of the defendant.
“Consequently thereupon, the defendant is found guilty as charged. He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment”.
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In her testimony before the court, the victim, said: “I am a primary three pupil. I am living with my grandmother. I know oga I.D Idowu (the defendant) who is my elder sister’s neighbour. On that day, I was fetching water to our kitchen, he asked me to come and get something for my grandmother, when I got there, there was nobody in the house.
” I stood by the door, he forced me to his room and covered my mouth with his hand, he used the other hand to remove his trouser and started forcing his thing to where I used to urinate. I was shouting but nobody could hear me”.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Barrister Julius Ajibare called five witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and medical report as exhibits.
