An Ekiti State High Court has handed down a life sentence to 71-year-old Sule Adeola for the rape of his neighbour’s 10-year-old granddaughter.
The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, marks the end of a case that has shocked the local community.
Adeola was charged on June 22, 2023, with one count of rape. The offense, which occurred on June 2, 2023, at the Federal Housing Estate in Ado Ekiti, violated Section 31(1) of the Child Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
The victim, who lived with her grandmother, revealed that the abuse had been ongoing between 2021 and 2023. She initially kept silent due to death threats from the defendant.
During the trial, prosecutor Julius Ajibare presented four witnesses and submitted the defendant’s statement and medical report as evidence. The defense, led by Adefolaju Ayobioloja, called three witnesses.
In her judgment, Justice Blessing Ajileye expressed deep concern over the rising cases of sexual assault. She stated, “It is unfortunate and saddening that recorded cases of intimate persons’ sexual assault hit new heights every day.”
The judge found the prosecution’s evidence compelling, noting, “From the totality of evidence on record, I am more persuaded by the prosecution’s evidence that there was proof of penetration, there is no scintilla of evidence available to the contrary.”
Justice Ajileye concluded, “The defendant, Sule Adeola, is found guilty of the offence of rape of a 10-year-old girl as charged. He is, accordingly, sentenced to life imprisonment.”
