An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Olukayode Dayo, a Civil Defence officer, attached to Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to life imprisonment for offence of rape.
The 39-year old convict was arraigned before Justice Lekan Olatawura on 13th May, 2022 on one count charge bothering on rape.
The charge reads that Olukayode Dayo on 25th of December, 2021 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the Honourable court did rape a 13 years old girl.
According to the charge, the offence is contrary to section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
In his statement to the police, the victim said, “I was living with my grandmother, I was sent home to go and bring banana and kola nut, on my way home, one man called Olukay (the defendant) crossed me with his motorcycle, he dropped the banana and kolanut on my head, he carried me to a fenced uncompleted building.
“I was shouting but he did not listen to me, he removed my pant and started having sex with me, a passerby who heard my voice entered the compound, he took to his heels on citing the man, the man chased him but he was unable to catch him, he came back and took me to my grandmother, he explained what happened to her,” she concluded.
To proof his case, the prosecutor Julius Ajibare called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, photographs of the victim and medical report as exhibits.
The defendant spoke in his own defense through his counsel Oluwaseun Oyebanji, he denied committing the offence but pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy, he called no witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Lekan Olatawura said, “in this event, the victim consistently, unequivocally and unshaking, stated that the defendant who was well known to her was the person who raped her.
“In all, I find proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant raped the 13-year old girl on 25th December, 2021 and consequent thereupon, I find him guilty as charged.
“Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment”, the judge ruled.
