An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a minor in Ekiti state.
The 39-year-old officer was convicted and sentenced by an Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti
He was said to have committed the crime on 25th of December, 2021 in Ado Ekiti.
The convict was arraigned before Justice Lekan Olatawura on 13th May 2022 on one count charge bordering on rape.
Justice Olatawura held that the prosecution proved the charge of rape against the convict beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him to life.
The charge reads that Olukayode Dayo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did rape a 13 years old girl.
According to the charge, the offense is contrary to section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
In her statement to the police, the victim said, “I was living with my grandmother, I was sent home to go and bring banana and kolanut, 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 pant and started having sex with me, a passerby who heard my voice entered the compound, he took to his heels on citing the man, the man chased him but he was unable to catch him, the man came back and took me to my grandmother and explained what happened to her”
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 spoke in his own defense through his counsel Oluwaseun Oyebanji, he denied committing the offense but pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy, he called no witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Lekan Olatawura said, in this event, the victim consistently, unequivocally, and unshakenly stated that the defendant who was well known to her was the person who raped her.
In all, it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant raped the 13-year-old girl on 25th December 2021 and consequent thereupon, I find him guilty as charged.
Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment, the judge ruled
