Afrigather
Justice O. F. Enenmo of Kwale Excessive Court docket in Delta State, has sentenced a 44-year-old native physician, Olawale Ayeni, to 10 years imprisonment with onerous labour for raping a married lady.
The defendant was arraigned earlier than the court docket on a one-count cost of rape punishable underneath part 358 of the Prison Legislation Code, Cap C21 Vol. 1, Legal guidelines of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.
The defendant was alleged to have had carnal data of a married lady with out her consent, on July 11, 2020 at Irri in Isoko South Native Authorities Space of the state. He pleaded not responsible to the cost.
The prosecution led by Mrs. Ejovwokwe Arhuere Oghorodje, a Deputy Director within the Ministry of Justice, referred to as three witnesses and tendered the confessional assertion of the defendant and the medical report of the married lady.
The prosecution advised the court docket that the sufferer was in her home feeding her child when the defendant got here and requested to see her, she advised the defendant to attend, however he persevered and requested her to return out.
The sufferer acknowledged additional that as quickly as she stepped out from her residence to satisfy the defendant, he blew a whitish substance on her face.
She acknowledged that the one factor she may bear in mind thereafter was seeing herself seated within the defendant’s home.
The defendant then reduce her face and again with razor blade and proceeded to have carnal data of her with out her consent. He warned and threatened her to not inform her husband or anyone in regards to the incident.
The lady then reported to her husband’s family members and the native vigilante. The defendant was later arrested and handed over to the police the place he made confessional assertion.
In his defence in court docket, the defendant retracted his confessional assertion and advised the court docket that he is aware of the sufferer, as somebody who brings prospects to him for preparation of conventional medication.
He acknowledged that on July 8, 2020, she got here to his home and requested him to organize medication that she’s going to use to defraud males.
He acknowledged that he charged her N28,000 which she was unable to pay. She got here again on July 9, 2020 and requested him to make use of his personal cash to organize the attraction, however he refused.
He denied making any incision on any a part of her physique or put any medication into her mouth or had sexual activity together with her.
Delivering judgment, Justice Enemo held that he believed the proof of the prosecution witnesses and that the prosecution proved its case past affordable doubt. He subsequently, dismissed the defence put up by the defendant.
The court docket thereafter convicted and sentenced him (defendant) to 10 years imprisonment with onerous labour.
Talking to newsmen shortly after the judgment, Director, Sexual Offences Unit of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. P. U. Akamagwuna counseled the court docket for the judgment.
She acknowledged that the Ministry of Justice will proceed to prosecute all intercourse offenders because the state won’t ever tolerate such crimes inside its environs.
Ayeni has since been enrolled within the Delta State Intercourse Offenders Register and his particulars uploaded to the nationwide database. That is consistent with the provisions of the Violence In opposition to Individuals Prohibition Legislation 2020.
