An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced one Jayeoba Oluwafemi to life imprisonment for r3ping his 14-year-old stepdaughter. The 56-year-old convict was arraigned before Justice Adekunle Adeleye on 4th December, 2020, on a one-count charge bordering on rape. The charge reads that 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 Childs 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 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 s3x 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. He continued this act anytime my mother was not around. I used to tell my mother on her arrival, but she did nothing about it. When she noticed that I was telling my mother about his continuous s3xual 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 governors office to lodge an official complaint, which led to his arrest. To prove his case, the prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called six witnesses and tendered the defendants statement and medical report as exhibits. The defendant, who was on bail two years ago, spoke in his own defence through his lawyer, Oladele Adedeji; he called one witness. In his judgement, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said, I am of the humble view that the s3xual 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 Childs Rights Law, Cap. C7, Law of Ekiti State, 2012."
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