Farm labourer bags life imprisonment for raping Lagos teenager

Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Wednesday, sentenced a farm labourer, Isiaka Adeoye, who raped a 17-year-old girl, to life imprisonment.

The judge held that the prosecution proved the charge of defilement against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

She held that the testimony of the survivor corroborated the evidence of the investigating police officer and the medical reports.

The judge stated that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were coherent and unshakable, adding that there was no substantial contradiction to raise reasonable doubt in prosecuting the defendant.

Justice Soladoye said, “I believe the testimony of the survivor in total as she eloquently and brilliantly told the court that the defendant had a condom on before he had sex with her.

“The survivor told the court that her aunt sent her to do some work for her on her farm where the defendant works and that the defendant sent her to fetch water. When she came back, she met the defendant drunk and he asked her if she wanted to have fun and he ended up having sex with her.

“She said it was the farm manager that reported the case to the survivor’s sister when she narrated her ordeal in the hands of the defendant.

“The evidence of the three prosecution witnesses has sufficient proof that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the survivor. The address of the defence, no matter how beautifully written, cannot amount to vindicating the charge of defilement that the defendant truly committed.

“The evidence before this court shows that the defendant forcefully had sex with the survivor as this is corroborated in the medical report that there were bruises in her private parts, which can be the result of a struggle between her and the defendant.

“This should serve as a deterrent to others as adults should not take undue advantage of young children and defile their purity. The defendant was busy telling lies before this court, but the court is not fooled.

“The defendant is hereby found guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment. He should have his name written in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.”

Justice Soladoye said there was a need for sexual education, moral re-awakening and training of underage children to maintain sexual purity in society.

“The survivor, in this case, was insensitive as a 17-year-old girl ought to be proactive and run for her life when she saw a condom on the private parts of the defendant.

“Instead, she waited until the defendant forcefully had his way and had sex with her,” she added.

(Punch)