An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced a paedophile teacher, Omotayo Adanlawo to life imprisonment for raping the 10year old daughter of his church’s founder at Iju in Akure North Local Government Area. 

The presiding judge, Justice Samuel Bola said Adanlawo failed to give convincing evidence and testimony to prove his innocence.

It was gathered that the judge described the victim as a ‘Witness of Truth’ because of the courage and precision in her testimony.

Omotayo Adanlawo on 24th August, 2018 allegedly went to the victim’s house at Iju while she was alone and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her, warning her not to tell anyone else she would die.

When the victim started complaining of stomach pains and could not walk afterwards, her mother took her to a hospital for examination where it was revealed that the girl had been raped

And after rigorous interrogation, the little girl opened up and said her father’s church member Omotayo Adanlawo had sexual intercourse with her.

The case was then reported at Iju-Itaogbolu Divisional Police Headquarters before being transferred to Ala Area Command, and a medical report revealed that there was actual penetration into the 10 year old girls’ private part.

Based on the legal advice from the director of public prosecution, Adanlawo was dragged before Justice Samuel Bola of a count charge of rape contrary to section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the criminal laws of Ondo State.

While the prosecution led by a state counsel, Stella Adegoke called 5 witnesses including the victim and her mother, the defendant was the only one who stood for himself.

Adanlawo in his statement before the police claimed the young girl told him to lie on her after asking for 50 naira and chinchin, but during cross examination, said he was at home at the time of the incident.

He also claimed to be battling with hernia and as such was not medically fit to have had sexual intercourse with the girl.

Justice Samuel Bola in his judgment however said the prosecution was able to prove there was penetration in the rape allegation against Adanlawo 

He also said the defendant gave no medical report to prove his condition as well as any evidence to suggest his was in his house as claimed on the day of the incident.

He therefore sentenced Adanlawo to life imprisonment in line with Section 358 of the criminal laws of Ondo State.

The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Adekola Olawoye said the judgment has shown that it would not be business as usual for paedophiles in the state.

Omotayo has been handed over to officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (formerly Nigerian Prisons) to begin his sentence.

Two days earlier, the war against rape had received a major boost as a Keke NAPEP driver, Blessing Kingsley, also bagged a life imprisonment for raping a teenager in Ondo town.

Kingsley is to spend the rest of his life in prison for raping a 14-year-old girl and infecting her with Hepatitis B two years ago.

Justice Bode Adegbehingbe of an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, who gave the judgment after a two-year trial, said the weight of evidence proved without doubt that Kingsley was guilty of the one-count charge of rape.

Leke Adegbite