An officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Olukayode Dayo, has been sentenced to life jail by an Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Tuesday, 9 June, 2024 for raping a minor.
The 39-year-old officer was arraigned on May 13, 2022 on a count charge of rape.
The charge read, “That Olukayode Dayo on December 25, 2021 at Ado Ekiti did rape a 13 years old girl. The offence is contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”
In her statement to the police, the victim who was living with her grandmother, said, “I was sent home to go and bring banana and kolanut. On my way, one man called OluKay (the defendant) crossed me with his motorcycle, he dropped the banana and kolanut on my head.
“He dragged me to a fenced uncompleted building. He did not bother despite my cries. He removed my pants and started having sex with me. It was when a passerby who heard my voice came there that OluKay took to his heels. The man attempted to chase him, but he escaped. The man later took me to my grandmother.”
The prosecutor, Mr Julius Ajibare, called six witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, photographs of the victim and medical report as exhibits.
The defendant, who spoke in his defence through his counsel, Oluwaseun Oyebanji, and called no witness, denied committing the offence but pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Lekan Olatawura said, “In this event, the victim consistently, unequivocally and unshakenly stated that the defendant, who was well known to her, was the person who raped her”.
The judge, who said that the prosecutor proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant raped the minor on December 25, 2021, said, “In all, I find him guilty as charged. Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment.”
