Father of Two Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Rape

By Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti


Having been found guilty of rape, an Ado-Ekiti High Court, yesterday sentenced a 35-year-old man, Tope Odeyemi, to life imprisonment.

Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye, in his judgment, said based on the confessional statement of the accused and other corroborative evidence of the prosecution reinforced the conviction.

He added that the culprit was guilty as charged and that he must face the consequences of his action, saying “he should face no other consequence than to go for life imprisonment,” the judge ruled.

The judge, who observed that the act of rape and defilement was rampant in the state, said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other potential rapists.

During trial, the prosecution, led by the state Attorney General, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, told the court that the father of two committed the offence on September 4, 2014 in Iyin-Ekiti.

Ajayi averred that the accused, on the said date, sexually assaulted a 27-year-old woman and inflicted grievous bodily harm on her , which led to her admission in a hospital.

The state’s chief law officer, said the offence contravened Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Laws Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

For diligent prosecution of the case, the prosecution called five witnesses to prove his case , while the defence counsel, Taiwo Adeloye called two witnesses.

Adeloye urged the court to discountenance all the evidence of the prosecution against his client describing them as feeble and porous.

The accused claimed that the victim was his girlfriend, and because he refused to buy her a BlackBerry phone, lied against him.

The state counsel also urged the court to convict Odeyemi based on the evidence laid before the court.