The Ado- Ekiti High Court, Ekiti, has sentenced one Durodola Ogundele, 65, to life imprisonment for raping his 85-years-old stepmother.

The convict was arraigned before Justice Monisola Abodunde on a one-count charge of rape.

According to the charge, Mr Ogundele, on June 15, 2021, at Ayetoro Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, within the court’s jurisdiction, raped the eighty-five-year-old woman.

In her testimony before the court, the victims’ daughter, Opeyemi Bolaji, said she had gone to serve her mother’s breakfast when she observed her in unsettling health condition.

“She said the defendant came to her room around 1:00 a.m., he rubbed a balm all over her body, including her anus and vagina, massaged her body, sucked her breast and forcefully had sex with her.

“When I tried to find out from the defendant, he said my mother must have been dreaming,” the victim’s daughter said.

The matter was first reported at Ido Ekiti Police Station before it was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police Force, Ado Ekiti.

To prove her case, the prosecutor, Folasade Alli, tendered statements from the victims, defendant, and medical report from Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, among others, as exhibits.

The defendant spoke in his defence through his counsel, M.O. Folorunso, and called no witnesses.

Mrs Abodunde ruled that the defendant committed the offence.

“The defendant is found guilty as charged for rape contrary to Section 2 of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition Law) 2019.

“He is convicted and accordingly sentenced to life imprisonment in line with Section 2 (2) of Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition Law) 2019.”

(NAN)