An Ekiti State High Court on Thursday sentenced a 40-year-old motorcyclist, Ajibola Odebo, to 10 years’ imprisonment for raping a 12-year-old girl in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Odebo, who was arraigned on November 22, 2021, was tried and found guilty on one count of rape.

The charge read, “The convict, on January 31, 2021, in Ado Ekiti, did rape a12-year-old minor. The offence runs contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap.C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

The victim, in her statement to the police, said, “I went to check my friend at the Ojumose area of Ado Ekiti. I was trekking back home when a man asked me why I was walking about in the dark. The man stopped the defendant (a bike rider) and paid him N200 to take me to our house at Housing Estate.

“But the Okada man turned to another route. I later found myself in a room at an unknown place where I later got to know to be Okutagbokutalori area in the state capital. He did not sleep with me on that day; but when he came on the second day, his neighbours asked him who I was and he lied to them. When they left, he came back and forcibly had sexual intercourse with me.”

The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called five witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and a medical report as exhibits.

The convict, who spoke through his counsel and called two witnesses, said, “I was paid to take the victim to her house at Housing Estate, but she begged me not to take her home. That was why I took her to my brother’s house. When I tried to have sex with her on the second day, I discovered she was still a virgin, as I could not penetrate her and I left her to go.”

In his judgment, Justice Bamidele Omotoso said, “The offence of rape is rampant in our society. Giving t he defendant an option of fine would defeat and frustrate the efforts of well-meaning people and stakeholders to curtail this menace in our society.

“Nevertheless, the court would temper justice with mercy since the convict is a first offender and breadwinner of his family as pleaded by his lawyer.

“I hereby sentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment of 10 years without option of fine.”