Man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping 10-year-old girl

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Monday sentenced a 33-year-old man, Olamilekan Ajewole, to life imprisonment for raping a 10-year-old girl.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted a 25-year-old woman, Ayo Omoyajowo, of the crimes.

The duo were arraigned for conspiracy and rape and arraigned on two count charge bordering on rape.

The charge read, “That the defendants on 29th June, 2024 at Ayetoro Ekiti did conspire to rape a 10 year old girl, 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 had said that the first defendant entered and locked the room where she was eating in the second defendant’s house and grabbed her from behind.

She said, “I shouted, but he covered my mouth with his palm. He removed my pant and forcibly had sex with me.

“Thereafter, he brought out a handkerchief from his pocket and used it to clean the blood.

“I wept because of the pain. When I got home, I narrated what happened to my father”.

The prosecutor, O.B Ayeleso, called five witnesses and tendered defendant’s statements, CD ROM, flash drive, medical report and medical documents as exhibits.

Olamilekan, who spoke through his lawyer, exonerated the second defendant, Omoyajowo, stating that she knew nothing about the incident and called one witness.

In his judgement, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said, “I find no inferable circumstance linking the second defendant (Omoyajowo) to the commission of rape with the first defendant. She is hereby acquitted and discharged.

“On the whole, the prosecution has established the essential ingredients of the offence of rape against the first defendant beyond reasonable doubt. He is found guilty as charged.

“Consequently, the first defendant (Ajewole) is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment as provided for by Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap.C7, Laws of Ekiti State 2012”, the judge pronounced.