Judge Orders Corporal Punishment For Convict , Plus 14 Years Jail Term

By Ayodele Oni

Justice Olalekan Olatawura of Ekiti State High Court has ordered that a 26 years old Oluwatosin Ajikawo, should be canned daily while in Jail for 14 years after being found guilty

of attempted  rape and grievous harm.

Ajikawo was arraigned before the court last year on two count charges of attempt to rape and grievous harm of one Kolawole Omotola.

Omotola had told the court how the convict attempted to rape her while threatening her with a knife save for the intervention of her neighbors who responded to her distress call and came to her rescue.

The charge reads “that the defendant on 13/2/2021 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did attempt to rape one Kolawole Omotola, and also caused grievous harm on her.

The offences contravene sections 359 and 335 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was sleeping around 11:00 p.m., I heard a bang at my door, I woke up to know what was happening, the defendant suddenly emerged with a knife, he ordered me to lay down on the bed but I declined.

“He started hitting my head on the wall and punching me in the face, I was shouting loudly, this attracted attention of my neighbours who came to my rescue after he had overpowered me.

“He was handed over to the Police while I was taken to the hospital for medical treatment due to knife and bodily injury sustained during the struggle.”

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Olasanmi Oluwaseun called two witnesses and tendered statements of the victim, witnesses and defendant as exhibits.

The defendant in his defence through his counsel, Busayo Sule admitted and confessed to have committed the offences.

“When I broke to her house, I wanted to have sex with her because she looked sexy and beautiful, it was painful for not succeeding in having sex with her, I overpowered her but was rescued by her neighbours.”

Justice Olatawura said in considering the appropriate sentence to be passed, “I take notice of the fact that sexual aggravated assaults on female have alarmingly increased within this jurisdiction and it must be nipped in the bud.

“The defendant showed no remorse up to this point, he is in my own opinion, not only a clear and present danger, but also a threat to women and should not be given any sympathetic consideration, so as to serve as a deterrent to other people or person of his ilk.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with canning in respect of count one (Attempt to rape) and two years imprisonment in count two (Grievous harm). The sentences are to run concurrently.”