Rape: Ondo Motorcyclist Gets Death Sentence for Killing Minor

A High Court in Ondo State, located in Akure—the state's capital—sentenced a man named Dare Ojo to death on Thursday for the murder of a...

A High Court in Ondo State, located in Akure—the state's capital—sentenced a man named Dare Ojo to death on Thursday for the murder of a girl named Zainab Adeyemo in Irun-Akoko, within the Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The prisoner was taken into custody by the state police force in July 2020 for sexually assaulting and killing the 11-year-old girl, and was later brought to court on charges of rape and murder.

Earlier in the hearing, it was stated that the deceased's mother contacted Ojo, a motorcycle taxi driver, to transport the late Zainab from Ese-Akoko to the market in Irun-Akoko. However, when the deceased's parents did not see her, they reached out to her mother's friend at the market, who informed them that she had not been seen there.

They later reached out to Ojo, who took her on his motorcycle, but he informed them that he left her at the market. A search team was organized within the community and eventually discovered Zainab's lifeless body, naked, in the bushes.

Following the arrest, the prisoner reportedly admitted to committing the offense and guided the police to the location where the crime occurred, then confessed to the wrongdoing.

During the hearing, defense attorney Kolawole Oluiwa requested the court to show compassion towards his client. When allowed to address the court, Ojo asked for clemency.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Yemi Fasanmi stated that Ojo was found guilty of the charges according to the findings of the pathologist from the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, who conducted tests on the remains of the deceased.

The court also determined that there was a struggle and the deceased's vagina was forcibly penetrated.

The judge stated that although there was no eyewitness testimony, he applied the Doctrine of Last Seen because Ojo was the final person to see Zainab, and no one else had seen her after the accused took her.

Judge Fasammi handed down a life sentence to Ojo after determining him guilty of the first charge, which was rape, as defined under Sections 31(1), (2), and (3) of the Ondo State Child’s Rights Law, 2007.

The court also sentenced him to death by hanging, after being found guilty of murder as defined in Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo, 2006.

In response, the prosecution attorney, Mrs. Bolanle, who serves as a Director in the state Ministry of Justice and as the Administrative Secretary of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence, stated that all involved parties received justice.

This involves a crime of murder and sexual assault. The defendant was charged with engaging in sexual activity with a minor, which violates Section 31, subsections 1, 2, and 3 of the Child's Rights Law, 2007, as well as a murder charge, violating Section 316 and subject to punishment under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 27 of the State Law, 2006. The case was first reported in 2020.

Later, there was also an amendment to the charges, followed by additional changes. As a result, the case was finally initiated in 2023 and remained ongoing until today, when the court delivered its verdict. The prosecution presented six witnesses, whereas the defendants provided their testimony without summoning any witnesses.

"So, in the end, he was convicted of charges one and two. Charge one is rape, and charge two is murder. The court sentenced him to life in prison for the rape and to death for charge two, which is murder. So, we give thanks to God. It's a huge relief. We have witnessed the conclusion of the case today," Afolabi said.

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