ADO-EKITI High Court
has sentenced a 19-year
old man, John Julius, to life
imprisonment for sexually
assaulting a 35-year-old
woman, Alice Ozar.
Justice John Adeyeye found
Julius guilty of raping Ozar
at her farm in Efon Alaaye.
The judge held that Julius
was convicted for the offence
of rape which is contrary to
Section 357 and punishable
under Section 358 of the
Criminal Code Cap 16 Laws
of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2012.
The incident occurred on
July 16 at Okemesi Road
in Efon Alaaye, while the
convict was first arraigned
on March 7, he pleaded not
guilty to the charges of rape
and assault with intent to
commit unnatural offence
preferred against him.
While in court, the
prosecution called three
witnesses including the
victim and tendered exhibits
including the convict’s
statement and victim’s pant.
Julius called his mother as
a witness and also spoke in
his own defence. The victim
told the court that she was
working on her farm when
the convict pretended as if
he wanted to help her which
she obliged.
Ozar revealed that Julius
kicked her and she fell to
the ground after which he
pressed her to the ground,
tore her undies and had
carnal knowledge of her.
Justice Adeyeye held
that: “Unfortunately, it will
appear I have no discretion
on the issue of sentence in
view of the decision of the
Supreme Court in Lucky v
State (Supra) where it was
held thus: ‘Any person who
commits the offence of rape
be liable to imprisonment for
life.
“Once the court convicts
an accused person for the
offence of rape as defined in
Section 357 of the Code, it has
no discretion but is bound to
obey the law by imposing a
term of imprisonment for
life.
“Consequently, the
defendant is hereby
sentenced to life
imprisonment.”
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