By Victor Akinkuolie ,Ado-Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced a 42-year-old commercial driver, Ilesanmi Adewale to life imprisonment for raping a 16-year- old girl in Isan Ekiti, Oye  Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

In his judgment, Justice Monisola Abodunde, found Adewale guilty and convicted him based on both oral and documentary evidences before the court.

In his verdict, the trial judge lamented that  crime of rape of minor is assuming a frightening dimension within the jurisdiction.

“I cannot contradict the terms imposed by the law. The mandatory provision is that, once a defendant is convicted of rape, he is liable to imprisonment for life.

“Based on the above reasoning and in strict adherence with the provisions of the law, I have no alternative than to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment and I so hold,” the judge ruled

Ilesanmi Adewale, a notable member of one of the driver unions in the area,  was arraigned before Justice Monisola Abodunde on December 16, 2021.

He was said to have committed the offence on 13th February, 2021 at Isan Ekiti was alledged to have  raped a sixteen-year- old girl,

The offence contravenes Section  31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In her statement to the Police, the victim said, ‘On the fateful day, my father sent me to Iludun-Ekiti, a neighbouring  town to Isan-Ekiti to bring his Altomated Teller Machine (TM) card and a sum of N8, 000 he kept at home.

” On my way back to Isan, I boarded the suspect’s car and was alone with him. He first touched my breast, but I warned him to stop it,  So, on getting to a bush between Isan and Iludun, he pulled up the car. Immediately I sensed danger, I opened the door and ran away.

“He chased and caught me. He carried me on his shoulder to a nearby bush with cutlass in his hand, where  he threatened to kill me with the cutlass if I refused to cooperate. He  removed my pant and forcefully had sexual intercourse with me.

“During the process, I was shouting and tore his cloth. Yet, he refused to let go off me. He had collected my father’s ATM card and N8, 000 from me, but he gave it back to me and begged me not to tell my father what  happened.

“When I got back to the road, I saw my father on a motorbike. And I narrated what happened to him. So, the driver was arrested and later taken to the police station.”

To prove his case beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecutor, Folashade Alli called three witnesses and tendered one pant, a big cutlass, medical report, defendant’s statement among others which were admitted as exhibits.

In his own defence, Adewale spoke through his counsel, Tajudeen Omidoyin, but called no witness.