An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, yesterday sentenced one Idris Rasheed, 23, to 12 years imprisọ̄nment for ráping a woman in purdah.
Trial judge, Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi said since the convịct confessed to the crịme while the doctor’s report confirmed penétration and sẹ́men was found, Rasheed was guilty of the charge.
The judge said the defẹ́ndant was hereby sentenced to 12 years imprisọ́nment.
Ajayi said the jaịl term would commenced from January 29, 2023, when the convịct was arraìgned in court.
The defence counsel, Mr. O. Ekundayo, during his plea, said the convịct had spend 19 months and nine days at the custody of Agodi prisọ̄n.
Ekundayo said the convịct had conducted himself in a manner most reasonably expected of him and has learnt his lesson.
He said the convịct had endured the paìns and agọ̀ny at the prisọ̀n facility as a lesson to him.
He said that the convìct was not a fugitìve before and during the time spent at Agodi prisìn in the circumstances of this case.
“The deféndant is at the mercy of the court, based on the fact before my noble Lord, I prayed the court to exercise the judicial dexterity and clemency on the convìct, “ Ekundayo said.
Earlier, the prọ̀secution led by Mrs. K. Oloso-Olayiwola, Deputy Director, Public Proṣecution, said the convìct, a resident of Abayomi area, Iwo Road, Ibadan, was charged with räpe.
Oloso-Olayiwola said the convìct räped the vìctim, 29, a petty trader and a divorcee about 10p.m., while she was on her way home.
The prọ̀secutor said the victìm had approached the convìct to show her the nearest mosque where she could pass the night.
She said it was while the convíct wanted to show her the nearest mosque that the convìct grìpped her neck and flúng her to the grọ́und beside the road and räped her.
Oloso-Olayiwola said the offẹ́nce was contrary to Section 357 and puniṣhable under Section 358 of the Crimìnal Code, Laws of Oyo State 2000.
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