By Ayodele Oni, Akure
Justice is on course in Ondo state as both the judiciary and executive are collaborating to put an end to rampant cases of the rape of underaged girls.
A few days after a driver bagged life sentence for raping a teenager in Ondo town, another High Court, sitting in Akure, has sentenced a paedophile teacher, Omotayo Adanlawo, to life imprisonment, for raping a 10-year old girl.
The victim is a daughter of the accused’s Church founder at Iju, in Akure North Local Government area.
Justice Samuel Bola, in his judgement, said Adanlawo failed to give convincing evidence and testimony to prove his innocence while he described the victim as a ‘witness of truth’ because of the courage and precision in her testimony.
The prosecution, led by Stella Adegoke, told the Court that the teacher, on 24th August 2018, went to the victim’s house while she was alone, and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her with a warning not to tell anyone else, or she would die.
According to her, it was when the victim started complaining of stomach pains and could not walk properly afterwards that her mother took her to a hospital for examination where it was revealed that the girl had been raped.
The little girl, therafter, opened up and disclosed that her father’s Church member, Omotayo Adanlawo, had sexual intercourse with her.
The case was reported at Iju-Itaogbolu Divisional Headquarters before being transfered to Ala Area Command. A medical report revealed that there was actual penetration.
Based of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, Adanlawo was arraigned before Justice Samuel Bola on a one count charge of rape contrary to section 357 and punishable under section 358 of the criminal laws of ondo state.
The prosecution called five witnesses, including the victim and her mother, while the defendant did not call anyone.
Adanlawo in his statement before the police claimed the young girl asked him to lie on her after demanding for fifty naira and chinchin. But during cross examination, he claimed that he was at home at the time of the incident.
He also claimed to be battling with hernia and, as such, was not medically fit to have sexual intercourse with the girl.
Justice Bola in his judgement said he was satisfied that the prosecution was able to establish rape against adanlawo
He also said the convict gave no medical report to prove his condition as well as any evidence to suggest he was in his house as claimed on the day of the incident.
He, therefore, sentenced Adanlawo to life imprisonment in line with section 358 of the crimanal laws of ondo state.
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