Adebayo Adenrele
One Oluwatosin Ajikawo has been sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment with canning by an Ekiti State High Court.
The 26-year old defendant, while serving his jail term will be canned as a result of his attempt to rape and grievous harm.
Justice Olalekan Olatawura, who gave the order said the defendant was found guilty of the offence.
Ajikawo was arraigned before the court in 2021 on two count charge of attempt to rape and grievous harm of one Kolawole Omotola.
Omotola had told the court how the Ajikawo attempted to rape her and threatened her with a Knife.
The Victim said she was rescued by the the intervention of her neighbours who responded to her distress call.
The charge reads “that the defendant on 13/2/2021 at Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did attempt to rape one Kolawole Omotola, and also caused grievous harm on her.”
“The offences contravene sections 359 and 335 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”
In her testimony before the court, the victim said, “I was sleeping around 11:00 p.m., I heard a bang at my door, I woke up to know what was happening, the defendant suddenly emerged with a knife, he ordered me to laid down on the bed but I declined, he started hitting my head on the wall and punching me in the face, I was shouting loudly, this attracted attention of my neighbours who came to my rescue after he had overpowered me, he was handed over to the Police while I was taken to the hospital for medical treatment due to knife and bodily injury sustained during the struggle.”
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Olasanmi Oluwaseun called two witnesses and tendered statements of the victim, witnesses and defendant as exhibits.
The defendant in his defense through his counsel, Busayo Sule admitted and confessed to have committed the offences, saying ‘’ when I broke to her house, I wanted to have sex with her because she looked sexy and beautiful, it was painful for not succeeded in having sex with her, I overpowered her but was rescued by her neighbours,” he concluded.
Justice Olatawura stated in considering the appropriate sentence to be passed, “I take notice of the fact that sexual aggravated assaults on female have alarmingly increased within this jurisdiction and it must be nipped in the bud.”
“The defendant showed no remorse up to this point, he is in my own opinion, not only a clear and present danger but also a threat to women and should not be given any sympathetic consideration, so as to serve as a deterrent to other people or person of his ilk.”
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with canning in respect of count one (Attempt to rape) and 2 years imprisonment in count two (Grievous harm).”
“The sentences are to run concurrently,” the Judge ruled.