Two Young Men Bag Life In Prison For Raping A 14-year-old Girl

Two men were given life sentences by the Ado Ekiti Division of the Ekiti State High Court for raping a 14-year-old girl.

Both defendants, Salau Adams (21) and Odeleye Tobi (21) were charged with one count of rape on May 13, 2022.

The charge read, “The defendants on February 28, 2022, at Awo Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun council of Ekiti State, did conspire to rape a 14-year-old-girl, contrary to Section 421 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State and Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

In her statement to the police, the victim said, “On that day, I was hawking fried meat. Adams and Tobi bought meat worth N100 each; they pretended to bring out money, but instead, Adams brought out a black handkerchief. I decided to leave and report them to my mother. When I turned, Tobi held and carried me from the back, while Adams covered my mouth with the black handkerchief. They carried me to a nearby bush behind their house. Adams first forcibly had sex with me and Tobi did the same. Thereafter, they ran away. I went back home crying, with bloodstains on my clothes.”

Adeola Arogundade, the prosecution, called eight witnesses and presented the statements of the defendants as well as a medical report as exhibits.

The defendants spoke through their attorney, who begged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the convicts were still young and might still contribute to society.

The two youths were given life sentences by Justice Olalekan Olatawura, who stated that the crime of child rape and defilement in this jurisdiction is quickly taking a horrific dimension.

Justice Olatawura said, “It is the duty of the court to send the right signal to would-be rapists.”

“The only way to discourage this dastardly and bestial act would be to punish those found guilty severely. I, therefore, hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants had sexual intercourse with the victim and it was not consensual. From the proved facts, it can be inferred and I so hold that the defendants conspired to commit the offence of rape.”