An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 31-year-old man, Olaleye Jimoh, to 20 years imprisonment for raping a 50-year-old woman.
Ariyo was arraigned on July 5, 2022, before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on a count charge bordering on rape.
According to the charge, the defendant on January 22, 2021, “did r@pe a 50-year-old woman, contrary to Section 2 of the Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law,No. 18 of 2019”.
In his statement to the Police, the victim said she became unconscious after touching an unknown substance belonging to the defendant.
“I went to pay a condolence visit to one of my business partners at Abidoye Farm in Odo Owa Ekiti. On my way back home, I saw the defendant going towards the same route,” she said.
“As my neighbour, he requested to help me and I agreed. At a point, he stopped, he said he wanted to pick something at a nearby primary school, and he asked me to hold something for him, I became unconscious immediately after I touched the substance.
“I later found myself in the bush where I discovered I had been raped.”
The prosecutor, Funmi Bello, called two witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements and a torn pant as exhibits.
The defendant, who spoke in his defence through his lawyer, Adunni Olanipekun, denied committing the offence and called three witnesses.
In the judgement on Friday, Justice Adeniyi Familoni said, “It is my findings that the prosecution has proved the alleged offence of the rape of the victim beyond reasonable doubt and the defendant is convicted as charged.
“Consequently, the defendant, Olaleye Jimoh, is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
“The sentence is with effect from the date he was arrested and detained.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.