EKITI (SUNDIATA POST)- A High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Friday sentenced a 33-year-old Oluwatuyi Bidemi to 21 years’ imprisonment for robbery, attempted murder and kidnapping.
Bidemi was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on July 21, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of attempted murder of one Abiodun Agnes.
While delivering judgment, Familoni said, “It is my finding that the prosecution has proved the offences of attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, and rape against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
“The sole issue for determination is resolved in favour of the prosecution. Accordingly, the defendant is convicted on all the counts as charged.
The convict is sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment on each of the four counts, without an option of fine.
“The sentences shall run concurrently, with effect from the date of the defendant’s arrest and detention”.
Earlier, the victim narrated how the convict accosted her on her way to work, held her on the neck and dragged her inside the bush.
She said the convict tied her with a rope and inserted a handkerchief inside her mouth.
According to her, the convict collected her wrist watch, phone, phone charger and ATM Cards.
“He held my neck and I became unconscious. when I regained consciousness, I discovered that he raped me and shaved my armpit and private part hairs.
“I was in the bush from 8.00 a.m. till 2.00 p.m.
“I could not shout. I crawled out and was rescued by passersby, who took me to the hospital.
“When I described the defendant, some people identify him. He was later arrested by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Omuo Ekiti,” she narrated.
The prosecutor, Oluwaseun Olasanmi, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statements, medical report among others as exhibits.
The defendant who was represented by Mr Charles Ayobioloja, did not call any witness but prayed the court to temper Justice with mercy.
The prosecutor said that the convict committed the offences on July 7, 2021, at Omuo Ekiti.
He said the offences contravened Sections 320, 402 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
It also contravened Section 2 of the Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, No 18 of 2019 and Section 3 of Ekiti State Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law, No. 12 of 2015.(NAN)
