An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, sentenced a 27-year-old man, Samuel Farotimi, to life imprisonment for conspiring with two others to gang-rape a 14-year-old girl.
In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, said, “I hold that the prosecution has established the ingredients of the offence of rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. He is found guilty as charged and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda, who prosecuted the case, called five witnesses and tendered the confessional statement of the convict as an exhibit.
The charge sheet read in part, “The act was committed on or about January 29, 2018 at Oke-Ureje, Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, when the accused conspired with others at large to rape a 14-year-old girl.
“The offences were contrary to sections 516 of the Criminal code, 31 of the Child Right Law, Cap C16 and C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”
In her testimony, the victim had said that she went to buy garri and sugar when the incident happened.
According to her, while she was on her way home, three men stopped her, covered her mouth and later dragged her into an uncompleted building, where they took turns on her.
The victim identified the convict as one of the rapists.
Farotimi, who was represented by his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, called no witness during the trial.