An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday sentenced a school proprietor, Mr. Babatunde Ibitoye, to 10 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of raping a 10-year-old pupil of his school.
Ibitoye, the owner of God’s Grace Nursery and Primary School, located in the Agric Olope area of the state, committed the offence on June 10, 2013.
In her verdict, Justice Toyin Abodunde, said evidence by the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convict had sexually abused the victim, who was her pupil as of the time the offence was committed.
The trial judge agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the victim’s evidence that the defendant was caught at the scene of the incident.
“I rely heavily on the evidence of the victim that the defendant had been having sexual relationship with her before he was caught.
“That some of the teachers even gave evidence that she bled profusely a few days before that time further confirmed that she had been sexually abused.
“The fact that the defendant was caught pants down was suffice to prove that the accused committed the offence contrary to Section 31(c)of the Ekiti State Child Rights Law 2013. He is hereby sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment without option of fine.”
Ibitoye was caught on the June 10, 2013, in a bush near Fayemi Market, where he was said to have sexually abused the victim under the guise that he was taking her home after the school hours.
On that day, Ibitoye was said to have taken three other pupils in his bus and drove towards a bushy area near the market, only to enter the bush with the victim.
Before entering the bush, Ibitoye reportedly sent other pupils on different errands.
However, some auto mechanics operating within the vicinity suspected him and immediately trailed him to the bush where they caught the convict raping the pupil.
He was apprehended and handed over to the police at the Ologede station in Ado Ekiti.
The then Governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, immediately ordered the closure of the school and had not been reopened since.
The Chairperson, Federation of International Female Lawyers, Mrs. Rita Ilevbaren, who commended the judgement, urged the victims of rape to always speak out.
Ilevbaren lauded the state Ministry of Justice, the judiciary and the victim’s parents for the diligent prosecution of the case.
“This is a landmark in the battle against rape in Ekiti State,” she added.
Source: PUNCH.
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