By Kunle Toba
An Ekiti State High Court has sentenced a self-acclaimed Prophet, Adeleye Akingbaso, to life imprisonment, for raping a 13-year-old girl.
Akingbaso, aged 47, was earlier arraigned in Sept. 2022 before Justice Blessing Ajileye on a two-count charge bothering on rape and coercion.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ajileye held that the prosecution had proved its case against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.
She therefore convicted and sentenced him to prison for life without an option of fine.
“In conclusion, this court has found the defendant guilty on the two-count charge of rape and coercion and convicted him accordingly.
“He is hereby sentenced to serve the rest of his life in prison.
“This will serve as a deterrent to others in the class of the convict, who have not yet been caught up with by nemesis,” the judge ordered.
Earlier at the trial, the Prosecution Counsel, Taiwo Ajibulu, said that the convict committed the offences sometime in July 2022, in Ado-Ekiti.
Ajibulu had alleged that the defendant raped the victim and also coerced her to engage in sexual acts to the detriment of her physical and psychological well-being.
He said the offences contravene Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012 and Section 4 of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, No.18 of 2019.
The prosecutor had also called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement and the girl’s medical report as exhibits.
