Abuja man gets life imprisonment for raping 17-year-old domestic worker

The judge noted that it was immaterial whether there was consent or not, as the defence counsel, Peter Dajang, tried to establish.

News Agency of Nigeria • January 31, 2024

FCT High Court

The Kubwa Division of the FCT High Court on Wednesday sentenced 56-year-old Olorundare Adesanmi to life imprisonment for raping his 17-year-old housemaid.

The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) had reported the matter for prosecution.

The prosecution counsel, Arinze Mbanefo, had told the court that Mr Adesanmi intentionally penetrated the vaginal of his 17-year-old housemaid in November 2018.

Mr Mbanefo said the housemaid had become pregnant, adding that the offence contravened section 1(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.

Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf, who found Mr Adesanmi guilty of the charge, held that evidence before the court proved that the victim was underage at the time of the commission of the crime on November 15, 2018.

Mr Akanbi-Yusuf noted that it was immaterial whether there was consent or not, as the defence counsel, Peter Dajang, tried to establish.

The judge, therefore, found him guilty of rape and accordingly convicted him.

The defence counsel, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying the convict was a first-time offender.

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