The Federal High Court, Ado- Ekiti, has  sentenced two brothers, Martins Ifebuchi, 32, and Joseph John, 19, to 17 years imprisonment each for raping a 15-year-old girl.

The convicts were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and rape of the teenager on May 8, 2021, in Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti.

In her recorded statement, the victim said that the first defendant and her mother were both tenants in the house where she lived.

She said her mother used to travel to buy goods to take care of her and her brother, adding that “Martins had been using that opportunity to sleep with me.”

The victim said he warned her not tell anybody and that if she did, she would die. 

She said that thereafter, the second convict, Mr John, came to his brother’s house on holiday and also raped her.

The girl said that when she could not bear it anymore, she told her mother who did not raise alarm.

She further said that while she was sleeping around 9:00 p.m. on that day, the convicts entered their room again and were in the process of undressing her when her mother entered and caught them in the act.

“They were then arrested and handed over to the police,” the victim narrated.

In his judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni, noted that offence of rape was a heinous crime and an act of utmost inhumanity, with devastating damage.

Mr Familoni said the defendants deserved the punishment to serve as a deterrent to others with similar tendencies.

“The defendants are hereby each sentenced to seven years imprisonment each on the count of conspiracy and 10 years each on the count of rape without an option of fine.

“The sentences are to run concurrently with effect from the date of this judgement,” the judge said.

(NAN)