By Sunmola Olowookere
A man in his twenties, Aaron Peter has been dragged before an Akure High Court for allegedly raping his employer in the farm.
He was alleged to have committed the offence in a farm settlement in Ore on April 10, 2020.
Peter had entered a “not guilty” plea when the charge of rape preferred against him was read to his hearing.
According to the prosecution led by one Bunmi Koyenikan, the crime was committed two years ago. She informed the court that he would call two witnesses in the case.
The victim, a 50 -year- old farmer, Samuel Oluwayemisi said that she lives at Beulah Secondary School in Ore.
She said that the defendant worked for her whenever she needed his service and also informed the court that they both have farms in the same area.
The woman said she gave a farm job of N5,000 to the defendant and paid himN3,000 advance.
Three days later and before he was yet to complete the job, he demanded for more money.
The witness stated that on one occasion, they were alone in the farm and he threatened her that he was wicked and would deal with her if she did not agree with his sexualadvances. All these while, the defendant was taking hard substance which she believed was Indian hemp.
She said that she had preached to him and prayed that God would touch his heart.
After she paid him the balance of N2,000 she owed him, Peter came to her on April 2020 and reportedly raped her in the farm.
She narrated how he hid in the bush and pounced on her. He had allegedly tore her trousers, short and panties and raped her.
Her words: “He was still on me when a man who rescued her, Kayode Adedayo came. He wanted to machete him but the defendant ran away. The defendant overpowered me when he burst out of the forest and grabbed my neck.
“I was putting on panties, knickers and trousers. He tore everything. The man who saw him was the one who carried me to the farmstead.”
She informed the court that she had known him for three years before the rape.
She explained that the good Samaritan who rescued her had taken her to the police station and the police officer on duty rushed her to the general hospital in Ore.
The medical personnel on duty had at first rejected her due to the degree of the tears she sustained but the policeman who took her to the hospital begged them and they attended to her.
“They brought out clots of blood from my vagina and stitched me up.
On the day I went with the police to arrest him, he went to hide in the farm and it was one of our church members that helped to apprehend him.”
During cross examination by the defense counsel, Adamu Abdullahi , she admitted that the defendant had made advances towards her before the rape but maintained that she did not agree with his sexual advances.
She also said that her last born was 20 years old in response to question of the defense counsel as to whether she has husband and children.
The police witness, Inspector Ojo Henry informed the court that apart from taking the complainant to the hospital, he had also obtained the medical report and visited the scene of the crime.
He narrated that at the General Hospital, Ore where the doctor examined her, it was discovered that she had lost much blood and there was tear in her vagina.
He explained further that the eye witness, Adedayo Kayode statement was taken and that of the complainant.
He, however, regretted that the eye witness is deceased.
He said that when he visited the scene of the crime, he took photographs.
Following no objection by the defense counsel, the statement of the defendant was admitted and marked as exhibit.
Medical report by one Dr O. Igbasan was tendered by the prosecution and it was also admitted as exhibit.
During the cross examination by the defense counsel, the police investigation report was also tendered as an exhibit and the prosecution closed its case.
The defense opened by calling the defendant into the witness box as its sole witness.
Peter Aaron, the defendant, in his testimony said prior to the case, he lived in Ore and he is a farmer.
He said that he did not rape any woman. He said the complaint was owing him money which she refused to pay for over a week. He said that he had worked for other women in the camp and there had been no complain.
He said he was lured to where he was arrested with the story that the loan they applied for had clicked.
Under cross examination by the prosecution, the defendant maintained that he knew nothing about the rape of the complainant.
