Man, 29, jailed 10 years for rape

A high court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 29-year-old farmer, Owajulu Tobi, to 10 years imprisonment for rape. According to the prosecution, the accused on June 12, 2021, at Ibeji-Eluja in Emure Ekiti, raped a 17-year-old. In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I went to my grandmother’s farm to […]

A high court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 29-year-old farmer, Owajulu Tobi, to 10 years imprisonment for rape.

According to the prosecution, the accused on June 12, 2021, at Ibeji-Eluja in Emure Ekiti, raped a 17-year-old.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I went to my grandmother’s farm to harvest pepper. In the farm, the accused came to me and demanded water and palm fruits. I told him I didn’t have water while the palm fruits belonged to my grandmother.

“He left and later came back and held me at the back and covered my mouth with cloth. I was struggling to shout but he overpowered me and raped me.

“He also flogged me with a cassava stick for wasting his time. I was crying and left the farm. Passersby took me to the hospital and later informed my parents.’’

The prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu, called five witnesses and tendered statements of the defendant, a medical report, a pant, among others as exhibits.

The accused, who spoke through his counsel, Gbenga Abiola, called no witness.

Justice Adeniyi Familoni, while giving his verdict, said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.