By Precious Owolabi, Ado- Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, has sentenced a 47 -year old Prophet, Adeleye Akingbaso to life imprisonment for raping a 13- year old .

The convict, Akingbaso was arraigned in September, 2022 before Justice Blessing Ajileye on a two count charge bordering on rape and coercion.

The charge read that the Prophet, sometimes in July, 2022 at Ado-Ekiti within the Jurisdiction of the court did rape a thirteen year old girl, also in July, 2021, Prophet Adeleye coerced the victim to engage in sexual act to the detriment of her physical and psychological well-being.

The offences, according to the charge are contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Section 4 of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, No.18 of 2019.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said “Prophet Adeleye was my mother’s man-friend, he used to come and sleep in our house, one day, my mummy was on night duty, Prophet Adeleye came to sleep in our house, at the midnight, he woke me up and said I bedwet, I said no, he brought out a bottle of sheabutter (ori) and rubbed it on my virgina, that was all I know, I later discovered I have been raped that night, he threatened me that he will curse me and I will die if I tell anybody.

On the second day, my mother was not at home, he came to our house again. I was in the kitchen, he told me he wanted to complete what he started yesterday, he was trying to rough-handled me but I managed to run out and shouted for help and our neighbours came to my rescue, they called my mother and narrated what happened to her, When she returned she slapped the prophet and later reported the case at the Police station, she concluded.”

To proof his case, the prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu Ariyo called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and medical report as exhibits, while the defendant spoke in his own defence through his lawyer, Adelanke Akinrata, he called no witness.

In his judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye said the court found the defendant guilty on the two count charge of rape and coercion and convicted him accordingly.

He said this will serve as deterent to others in the class of the defendant who have not been caught up by the law.

On count one (rape), the defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment and on count two (coercion), he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, both terms are to run concurrently, Justice Ajileye ruled.