An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday sentenced two men, Anu Olaniyi and Abidemi Alibaloye to life imprisonment for ganging up to rape a 13-year-old girl.
The convicts committed the offences on December 28, 2020.
The duo, who were arraigned in the court presided over by Justice Adekunle Adeleye on the charges of conspiracy and gang-rape were also sentenced to two years imprisonment each for conspiracy.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Julius Ajibare told the court that the offences contradict Section 421 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021 and Section 2(2)(c) of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) (First Amendment) Law, 2020.
Ajibare who called four witnesses tendered seven exhibits to support and prove his case.
The defendants who called no witnesses, spoke through their counsel, Oluwafemi Alonge who gave evidence in their defence.
The victim, during the hearing told the court that, “I was sent on an errand on 28th December 2020 when one of the convicts intercepted me and purposely directed me to his friend’s place where they both forcibly had carnal knowledge of me one after the other.
“I was able to recognise both convicts and they were later arrested and charged to court.”
Delivering his judgement, Justice Adeleye said, “The prosecution proved the offence of gang-rape and conspiracy against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt”.
He consequently convicted the defendants and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment for gang-rape and two years imprisonment for conspiracy.
