Joseph Agbomu, a local farmer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling a minor in Ondo. 

Mr Agbomu, 37, was jailed by the Ondo High Court in Akure on Thursday.

The convict had earlier been charged to the court on March 18, 2019, over the case of defilement. 

Ruling on Thursday, Justice Yemi Fasanmi of the court held that the prosecution could prove the case of rape against Mr Agbomu beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The convict (Agbomu) is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the defilement of a child to serve as a deterrent to others, who might engage in such an act,” he declared in his verdict.

Mr Fasanmi noted that the testimony of the survivor, a six-year-old girl (names withheld), was convincing and truthful.

He said the evidence of the minor also corroborated the evidence of the nominal complainant – her father. 

“The survivor, in this case, narrated before this court that the convict, who was his father’s neighbour, sent her on an errand to buy a pack of indomie.

“The survivor said the convict cooked the indomie and gave her part of it, and shortly after eating, he pushed her to his bed and inserted his penis into her vaginal,” he said. 

Mr Fasanmi also held that the convict inflicted physical, emotional and psychological trauma on the survivor

The judge explained that the convict, in his extra-judicial statement obtained on December 12, 2019, confessed to the commission of the crime.

He said the convicted confessed to having had carnal knowledge of the survivor in his room without using a condom after taking a herbal alcoholic drink.

According to him, the child’s testimony was copiously corroborated by the convict’s confessional statement that he (Agbomu) had unlawful sexual intercourse with her. 

Mr Agbomu had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the prosecution.

Earlier, T.L. Ogundare, state counsel, informed the court that the convict raped the victim on September 12, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. at  Ijebu, Owo Local Government.

Mr Ogundare revealed that the offence contravened sections 375, 378 of the Ondo State Criminal Code, 2006

He stated that the survivor’s father reported a case of rape against the defendant.

The prosecutor called three witnesses, which included the survivor, her father and a police officer.

Counsel to the defendant, A.Y Aliu, had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, saying that no improper behaviour had ever been brought against the defendant.