An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Friday sentenced 33-year-old man Bidemi Oluwatuyi, to 21 years imprisonment for robbing, raping, kidnapping and attempting to murder a civil servant at Omuo Ekiti.
The defendant was arraigned on 21 July 2021 on a four-count charge of attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping and rape contrary to sections 320, 402(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, Section 2 of the Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law No 18 of 2019 and Section 3 of Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, No. 12 of 2015.
The charge read, “The convict on 7th July 2021 at Omuo Ekiti did attempt to murder one Agnes Abiodun.
“He also robbed Abiodun of her phone, charger, wristwatch, ATM cards and others and on same date and place did kidnap and rape the victim.”
In her evidence before the court, the victim said, “I am a civil servant, I was going to the office through a popular bush path around 8 am, suddenly, somebody held my neck from behind, dragged me into the bush, inserted handkerchief into my mouth.
“He collected my wristwatch, phone, charger, ATM cards etc. I became unconscious. He had left when I regained consciousness. It was then I discovered he had raped me and shaved my armpit and private part hair.
“Some passersby rescued me and took me to the hospital. I was in the bush from 8 am to 2 pm. When I described the defendant, some people knew him and he was later arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps at Omuo Ekiti.”
The prosecutor, Oluwaseun Olasanmi, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements and medical report among others as exhibits while the defendant, who spoke in his own defence through his lawyer, Charles Ayobioloja, called no witness, praying the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni said that the prosecution proved the offences of attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping and rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt in this case.
The judge stated, “The sole issue for determination is resolved in favour of the prosecution. Accordingly, he is convicted on all the counts as charged.
“The defendant is sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on each of the four counts without option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently with effect from the date of arrest and detention of the defendant.”
