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Ekiti man jailed with flogging over attempted rape
EKITI HIGH COURT

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Ajikawo Oluwatosin, to 16 years’ imprisonment for attempting to rape a lady and causing grievous harm.

The defendant was arraigned on two counts of attempted rape and causing grievous harm.

According to the charges, the defendant, on February 13, 2021, at Ado Ekiti, attempted to rape the victim, identified only as Omotola.

The police prosecutor, Olasanmi Oluwaseun, said the offences contravened sections 359 and 335 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was sleeping around 11pm, when I was woken up by a bang on my door. The defendant suddenly emerged with a knife; he ordered me to lay on bed, but I declined. He started hitting my head on the wall and punching me in the face, and I shouted loudly.

“This attracted the attention of my neighbours, who came to my rescue after he had overpowered me. He was handed over to the police, while I was taken to a hospital for medical treatment due to the knife and bodily injuries sustained during the struggle.”

The prosecutor called two witnesses and tendered the statements of the victim, witnesses and defendant as exhibits.Related News

The defendant confessed to the offences.

He said, “When I broke into her house, I wanted to have sex with her because she looked beautiful. It was painful that I was not successful.”

Justice Olalekan Olatawura, on Wednesday, said the defendant was found guilty as charged on both counts.

He said, “In considering the appropriate sentence to be passed, I take notice of the fact that sexual aggravated assaults on female have alarmingly increased within this jurisdiction and it must be nipped in the bud.

“The defendant showed no remorse up to this point. He is, in my own opinion, not only a clear and present danger, but also a threat to women and should not be given any sympathetic consideration, to serve as a deterrent to other people or person of his ilk.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment with canning in respect of count one (attempt to rape) and two years’ imprisonment in count two (grievous harm).The sentences are to run concurrently.”

Culled from PUNCH