Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, has sentenced a teacher, Omotayo Adanlawo, to life imprisonment for raping the 10- year-old daughter of General Overseer of his Church.
The judge, Justice Samuel Bola said Adanlawo did not give convincing evidence and testimony to prove his innocence over the alleged crime which happened on August 24, 2018.
Adanlawo was said to have committed the offence at the victim’s house at Iju while she was alone and defiled her with a warning not to tell anyone else she will die.
The bubble burst when the victim started complaining of stomach pains and could not walk properly. Her mother took her to a hospital for examination where it was revealed that the girl had been raped.
After rigorous interrogation, the victim was said to have finally revealed that her father’s spiritual son was responsible for the rape.
Adanlawo was subsequently arrested and arraigned before Justice Bola on a one count-charge of rape punishable under section 358 of the criminal laws of Ondo State.
The prosecution led State Counsel, Stella Adegoke called five witnesses but the defendant testified for himself.
Adanlawo in his statement before the police said he was battling hernia and was not medically fit to have sexual intercourse with the girl.
He also claimed that the young girl told him to lay on her after asking for 50 naira and chinchin, but during cross examination he claimed that he was at his home at the time of the incident.
Justice Bola in his judgement said the victim was a ‘Witness of Truth’ because of the courage and precision in her testimony, and the prosecution proved there was penetration of the little girl.
For the defendant, the judge said he 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.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged father of seven have been dragged to Court for allegedly sexually molesting and raping two of his teenage daughters at knifepoint in their home in Lagos State.