An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 17-year old boy to be detained at the Juvenile Centre, Ado Ekiti, for raping a 3-year-old girl.
The prosecutor, S.B.J Bamise, said the teenager on May 30, 2020 at Osi Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of the court, raped a 3 year old girl, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap.C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
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In her testimony before the court, the victim’s mother (name-withheld), said she went out to hawk fish on that day, and that when she returned around 5pm, she discovered that her daughter’s movement was unstable.
‘’When I checked her underwear inside the room, I discovered blood stain and semen on her laps, when I enquired; she pointed and mentioned the detainees name to have done it to her.
‘’Some people in the neighborhood testified that they saw my daughter playing around with the detainee. He initially denied the offence but later confessed to the Police at Ido Ekiti,’’ she narrated.
Counsel to the defendant, Paul Ayantoyinbo, urged the court to consider the defendants’ age put at fifteen years at the time of commission of the offence and temper justice with mercy.
Justice Adekunle Adeleye, in her judgement ‘’said the prosecution has established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant raped the minor. The defendant as prayed by his counsel has not attained the age of majority at the time the offence of rape was committed.
Justice Adeyeye, later order that the defendant be detained at the Juvenile Centre, Ado Ekiti, at the pleasure of the governor.