Martins Owoseni

EKITI, Nigeria – A high court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria, has sentenced one Olukayode Dayo, a former officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to life imprisonment over an offence of rape.

Olukayode Dayo, 39, was arraigned before Justice Lekan Olatawura on May 13, 2022, on a one-count charge bordering on rape.

The charge reads that Olukayode Dayo, on Dec. 25, 2021, in Ado-Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of Ado-Ekiti Court, raped a 13-year-old girl whose name was withheld.

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.

”I was living with my grandmother; I was sent home to go and bring banana and kolanut,” the victim said in a statement to the police.

“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 pants and started having sex with me; a passerby who heard my voice entered the compound; he took to his heels, 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 prove 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, who spoke in his own defence through his counsel, Oluwaseun Oyebanji, denied committing the offence but pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy, and he called no witnesses.

Delivering judgement, Justice Lekan Olatawura said that in this event, the victim consistently, unequivocally, and unshakably stated that the defendant who was well known to her was the person who raped her.

“In all, I find proof beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant raped the 13-year-old girl on Dec. 25, 2021, and consequently, I find him guilty as charged.

”Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge ruled.

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