Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 50-year-old woman in Ekiti

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 31-year-old man, Olaleye Jimoh, to 20 years imprisonment for raping a 50-year-old woman.

Ariyo was arraigned on July 5, 2022 before Judge Adeniyi Familoni on a charge bordering on rape.

According to the prosecution, on January 22, 2021, the accused “raped a 50-year-old woman in violation of Section 2 of the Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Act No. 18 of 2019.”

In his statement to the police, the victim said: “I paid a condolence visit to one of my business partners at Abidoye Farm in Odo Owa Ekiti. On the way home I saw the defendant taking the same route.

“As my neighbor, he asked me for help and I agreed. At one point he stopped, said he wanted to pick something at a nearby elementary school and asked me to have some ready for him. I immediately passed out after touching the substance.

“I later found myself in the bush where I learned I had been raped.”

The prosecutor, Funmi Bello, called two witnesses and presented the defendant’s statements and a torn pair of pants as evidence.

The accused, who spoke in his defense through his lawyer, Adunni Olanipekun, denied committing the crime and called three witnesses.

In Friday’s ruling, Judge Adeniyi Familoni said: “In my findings, the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt the alleged offense of rape of the victim and the defendant is convicted as charged.”

“Consequently, the defendant, Olaleye Jimoh, is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

“The sentence applies from the day of his arrest and detention.”