A 56-year-old man, Jayeoba Oluwafemi has been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti for raping his 14 year-old step daughter.
The convict was arraigned before the court presided over by Justice Adekunle Adeleye on 4th December, 2020 on one count charge bordering on rape.
The charge reads that the defendant on 26th October, 2020 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did rape a fourteen year old girl, contrary to Section 31 (2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap: C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
The victim, who was a primary six pupil then, testified before the court, “My mother got married to the defendant. We were not living together, but he slept in our house, especially when my mother was not at home or travelling.
“On 26th October, 2020, my mother travelled to Lagos and the defendant slept in our house. At midnight, he woke up and forcefully had sex with me and thereafter, blood was gushing out of my virgina. I called my mother the following morning. When she arrived, she asked him, but he denied it.
“He continued this act anytime my mother was not around. I used to tell my mother about it on her arrival, but she did nothing about it. When she noticed that I was telling my mother about his continuous sexual activity with me, he started threatening me.
“One day, he wanted to beat me, and I ran out of the house. I met a woman on the road, I told her what happened and she directed me to the governor’s office to lodge an official complaint, which led to his arrest”, she said.
The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and medical report as exhibits to prove his case.
The defendant, on bail two years ago, spoke in his defence through his lawyer, Oladele Adedeji and called one witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Adeleye said, “I am of the humble view that the sexual intercourse sessions were on several occasions, it was not a one-off affair.
“And upon careful analysis of the entire circumstance of this case, the change in story or outright denial by the defendant is an afterthought. The prosecution has established the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
“He is accordingly found guilty as charged and hereby sentenced to life imprisonment as provided for under the provisions of Section 31 (2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Law of Ekiti State, 2012”.
