A 24-year-old man, Sunday Asere has been sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment by an Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti for sexually assaulting a six years old primary school pupil.
Asere who was arraigned at the Court presided over by Justice Adekunle Adeleye on March 22, 2022 was tried on one count charge of rape.
The charge reads that the defendant sometimes in January 2020, at Moferere in Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the honourable court did rape a six years old girl.
The offence, according to the charge , is contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2012.
The victim, in her statement to the police said, “I am a primary pupil. I am living with my mother but my parents have separated. Uncle Sunday was our neighbour. Anytime my mother was not at home, he would ask me to lie down, he would remove my pant and insert is something in my my private part. I was feeling pain anytime he did it.
“I did not tell my mother because she is too harsh. Uncle Sunday did same thing on 13th January, 2020. On the second day, my daddy came to visit me in the school and I told him everything Uncle Sunday had been doing to me. My father later went to report the case at the police station”, she concluded.
The prosecutor, Kunle Adeyemo, called six witnesses and tendered statement of the defendant and medical report as exhibits to proof his case.
The defendant, who spoke in his own defence through his own counsel, Adebayo Adewumi called no witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Adeleye said, “The medical doctor findings after, revealed likely sexual abuse but no evidence of penetration of the vagina.
“From the entire circumstance, the prosecution was able to establish assault. The defendant is liable for imprisonment for a term of fourteen years.
“Accordingly, the defendant is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for fourteen years”, the judge ruled.
