By Oludamisi Ojo
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 50-year-old man, Usman Tajudeen to life imprisonment, for raping a four-year-old minor.

Usman was arraigned before Justice Lekan Ogunmoye on one count charge of rape, contrary to Section 31 (2) of the child’s Right Law, Cap.C7 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

Delivering his judgment, yesterday, Justice Ogunmoye, said the prosecutor, had established before the court that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the minor, thereby committing the offence of rape as charged.

“In all, the prosecution had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant. The sole issue for determination is resolved in favour of the prosecution. The defendant is convicted as charged. The sentence for the offence of rape under Child’s Right Law is mandatory. He is sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge said.

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The charge said, ‘that you Usman Tajudeen, on 21st August 2020 at Ikere Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, did rape a 4-year-old girl’.

In her statement to the Police, the victim said, Usman, who is living in “our house”, on that day took her to his sitting room, asked her to sit on his lap, removed her pants and forcefully had her carnal knowledge.

In her testimony before the court, the mother of the victim, said: “I was at where I was making cassava flour, my daughter went to where she went to excrete, when I went to pack the faeces, I noticed blood in it. Thereafter, I checked her anus and vaginal.

“I saw blood coming out of the place, I was scared. When I inquired from her, she said it was Usman that put his something where I was urinating. The matter was reported at Ikere Ekiti Police Station.”

The prosecutor, K.S. Adeyemo called five witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, victim’s statement, and medical report as exhibits to prove his case.