A high court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a man named Olukayode Dayo to life in prison for raping a young girl.
Olukayode Dayo, who is 39 years old, stood before Justice Lekan Olatawura on May 13, 2022. The charge was that he raped a 13-year-old girl.
The charge said that on December 25, 2021, in Ado Ekiti, Olukayode raped the 13-year-old girl. This is against the child protection law of Ekiti State.
The young girl told the police what happened. She said, “I was living with my grandmother. She sent me home to get some bananas and kolanuts. On my way, a man named Olukay (the defendant) stopped me with his motorcycle. He put the bananas and kolanuts on my head, then took me to an unfinished, fenced building. I screamed, but he didn’t stop. He took off my underpants and raped me. A passerby heard my cries and came in. Seeing him, the man ran away. The passerby chased him but couldn’t catch him. He then brought me back to my grandmother and explained what happened,” she concluded.
To prove their case, the prosecutor, Julius Ajibare, called six witnesses. They also showed the court the defendant’s statement, photos of the young girl, and a medical report.
In his defense, the defendant, through his lawyer Oluwaseun Oyebanji, said he did not commit the crime but asked the court for mercy. He did not call any witnesses.
When giving the judgment, Justice Lekan Olatawura said, “The young girl firmly and clearly said that the defendant, who she knew well, was the one who raped her.”
Justice Olatawura found Olukayode Dayo guilty beyond any doubt. He confirmed that Olukayode raped the girl on December 25, 2021. As a result, he sentenced Olukayode to life in prison.