Court sentences man to 10 years imprisonment for defiling 12-year-old in Ekiti

A high court in Ekiti, on Thursday, sentenced a 40-year-old commercial motorcyclist, identified as Ajibola Odebo, to 10 years imprisonment for sexual assault.

According to NAN, Odebo was arraigned before Bamidele Omotoso, the judge, on a one-count charge of defilement.

The offence, which occurred on November 22, 2021, was said to contravene the provisions of section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap.C7, Laws of Ekiti, 2012.

The judge expressed concern over the prevalence of rape cases in the country, adding that an option of fine would thwart the efforts of victims seeking justice.

“Giving the convict an option of fine would defeat and frustrate the efforts of well-meaning people and stakeholders to curtail this menace in our society,” Omotoso said.

“Nevertheless, the court would temper justice with mercy since the convict is a first offender and the breadwinner of his family as pleaded by his lawyer.

‘‘I hereby sentence the convict, Ajibola Odebo, to a term of imprisonment of 10 years without the option of fine.

”The term of imprisonment shall begin from February 26, 2021.”

Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, the prosecutor, had presented five witnesses, the statement of the defendant, and medical reports to prove his case.

Speaking in his defence through E.K. Adetifa, his counsel, the convict said he was paid to take the victim to her house but he took her to his brother’s house after she asked him not to take her home.

”I took her to my brother’s house. When I tried to have sex with her on the second day, I discovered she was still a virgin and I let her go,” the convict claimed.

According to the victim’s statement to the police, she was returning from her friend’s house in Ojumose area of Ado-Ekiti at night when she stopped the motorcyclist and paid him N200 to take her home.

The victim said the commercial motorcyclist took her to an unknown location and sexually assaulted her.

”I stopped an okada man and paid him N200 to take me to our house at housing estate, but instead, he diverted and took me to an unknown place,” the victim said.

“I later found myself in a room with him where I later got to know to be Okutagbokutalori. He lied to his neighbours when they asked who I was. He raped me.”