By Deborah Nnamdi
Justice Adekunle Adeleye of the Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti on Monday sentenced 56-year-old Jayeoba Oluwafemi to life imprisonment for the rape of his 14-year-old stepdaughter. The convict was arraigned on December 4, 2020, on a single count of rape.
The charge read in part: “The defendant, on October 26, 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.”
In her testimony before the court, the victim, who was a primary six pupil then, said, “My mother got married to the defendant; we were not living together, but he used to sleep in our house, especially when my mother was not at home.
“On 26th October 2020, my mother traveled to Lago, 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 vigina. 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 her arrival, but she did nothing about it. When she noticed that I was telling my mother about his continuous sexual harassment, 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.”
The prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and medical report as exhibits to prove his case.
The defendant, who was on bail two years ago, spoke in his defense, while his lawyer, Oladele Adedeji, called one additional witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice Adeleye found him guilty of the offense and sentenced him accordingly.
He 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 offense of rape against the defendant beyond a 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,” the judge ruled.
