A school teacher in Ondo State, Omotayo Adanlawo, has been jailed for life for raping and impregnating the 10- year- old daughter of the General Overseer of his Church.
Justice Samuel Bola of Ondo State High Court, who gave the judgement, said the defendant failed to give convincing evidence and testimony to prove his innocence in the rape allegations.
The trial judge said the victim was a ‘Witness of Truth’ because of the courage and precision in her testimony.
Adanlawo, who used to attend the girl’s father’s church, was said to have committed the offence at the victim’s house at Iju in Akure North Local Government of the state on August 24, 2018 while the victim was alone. He was said to have defiled the victim and warned her not to tell anyone else she would die.
The case however came to the open when the victim could no longer walk properly and the doctor’s examination revealed that she had been raped. She was said to have revealed that her father’s spiritual son was responsible for the rape.
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The case was then reported at Iju-Itaogbolu Divisional Headquarters before being transferred to Ala area command.
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Adanlawo was subsequently arrested and arraigned before Justice Bola on a one count-charge of rape punishable under section 358 of the criminal laws of Ondo State.
The prosecution led State Counsel, Stella Adegoke, called five witnesses but the defendant testified for himself.
Adanlawo in his statement before the police said he was battling hernia and was not medically fit to have sexual intercourse with the girl.
But Justice Bola said the prosecution proved there was penetration of the victim.
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The trial judge added that the defendant gave no medical report to prove his condition as well as any evidence to suggest he was in his house as claimed on the day of the incident.
The judge subsequently sentenced Adanlawo to life imprisonment in line with section 358 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State.
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