An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, has sentenced a 27-year-old man, Farotimi Samuel, to life imprisonment for conspiracy and rape.
In his judgement, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, said, “I hold that the prosecution has established the ingredients of the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. He is found guilty as charged. He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”
According to the charge sheet, the act was committed on or about the January 29, 2018, at Oke-Ureje, Federal Polytechnic road, Ado-Ekiti. The accused conspired with others at large to rape a 14-year-old girl, thereby contravening sections 516 of the Criminal Code 31 of the Child Right Law, Cap C16 and C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
In her testimony before the court, the victim said she went to buy garri and sugar and on her way home, she was stopped by 3 men who covered her mouth and later took her to an uncompleted building where they all had canal knowlege of her.
She also confirmed that she recognised the accused person among them.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Mr Olawale Fapohunda, called five witnesses, while the accused confessional statement was tendered as exhibit.
The accused person spoke in his own defence through his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, who called no witness.