An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced Olukayode Dayo, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to life imprisonment for raping a minor.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, bringing a conclusion to a case that has drawn significant public attention.
The 39-year-old officer faced a single charge of rape following an incident on December 25, 2021.
According to the charge sheet, Dayo sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Ado Ekiti, in direct violation of Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
He was arraigned on May 13, 2022, and the trial has since been closely monitored by both local and national media.
In her poignant testimony, the victim recounted the harrowing experience. Living with her grandmother at the time, she was on an errand to fetch bananas and kolanut when Dayo, who was known to her as “OluKay,”
intercepted her with his motorcycle. Despite her cries for help, Dayo dragged her to an unfinished, fenced building, where he forcibly removed her underwear and raped her.
The assault only ended when a passerby, alerted by her screams, intervened, prompting Dayo to flee the scene.
The passerby then took the traumatized girl to her grandmother, who reported the incident to the authorities.
The prosecution, led by Mr. Julius Ajibare, presented a robust case against Dayo, calling six witnesses and submitting critical evidence including the defendant’s statement, photographs of the victim, and a medical report documenting the assault.
Despite Dayo’s plea for leniency and his denial of the crime, his defence counsel, Oluwaseun Oyebanji, did not present any witnesses.
The judge, Justice Lekan Olatawura, found the victim’s testimony compelling and credible. He emphasized the consistency and clarity of her account, noting that she identified Dayo without hesitation as the perpetrator.
Justice Olatawura, in his judgment, stated, “The victim consistently, unequivocally, and unshakenly stated that the defendant, who was well known to her, was the person who raped her.”
He concluded that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, thereby finding Dayo guilty as charged.
“In all, I find him guilty as charged. Consequent upon the foregoing, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge declared.
The sentencing of Olukayode Dayo underscores the judicial system’s commitment to protecting minors and delivering justice to victims of sexual violence.
This case also highlights the importance of community vigilance and support in combating such heinous crimes.
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