Ekiti Teacher Jailed 15 Years For Raping Minor In 1999

Oluwagbemi Alabi, a 45-year-old teacher, was sentenced to 15 years in jail by the Ado Ekiti Division of the Ekiti State High Court for raping an eight-year-old girl.

On August 25, 2023, Alabi was charged with one count of rape after committing the crime back in 1999.

The charge read, “Alabi Oluwafemi, sometime in 1999 at Ikere Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did rape an eight-year-old girl, at the time of committing the offence.

“The offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 1978.”

In her testimony before the court, the victim, who said Alabi was her teacher and neighbour, said, “He touched my breast each time he came to teach me at home. I did not understand anything about what he was doing until he raped me in our sitting room when my mother travelled to Lagos and left me and my sister at home.

“He removed my cloth and used it to clean the blood and sperm and threw it away. I later ran to our neighbours weeping, they thought I was missing my mother, but I did not tell them what happened.”

The victim, who said she dropped out of school since she could no longer concentrate on her studies, stated, “I was afraid anytime I saw him in the class. He came across me on Facebook sometime in 2012 and sent me a friend request and I declined.

“In the year 2023 again, he started disturbing me. I reported the matter to the law enforcement agents. I was advised to ignore him. Thereafter, he started sending disturbing and annoying videos and messages to me, referring to the past ugly incident. When I could no more bear it, I decided to take a legal action against him”, she told the court.

To support his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, produced two witnesses and presented a confessional statement of the defendant, evidence of the defendant’s discussions with the nominal complainant, a petition, and a printout of a screenshot of chats, among other things.

The defendant testified in his own defence via his lawyer, Ademola Adeyemi, and called two witnesses.

In the judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “The sexual intercourse with the victim could not have been consensual in that, she, as an eight-year-old girl, was a minor and lacked the capacity to consent to sexual intercourse.

“The confessional statement of the defendant also showed without equivocation that the defendant indeed committed the offence.

“This issue is resolved in favour of the prosecution and the defendant is found guilty as charged. One of the aims of sentencing is to serve as a deterrent.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to 15 years imprisonment without option of fine.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli