Ekiti: Man bags 14 years jail term with daily strokes of cane for sexual assault

An Ekiti State High Court yesterday, sentenced 26-year-old Ajikawo Oluwatosin to 14 years imprisonment with daily strokes of cane for attempted rape and grievous harm.
   
The convict was arraigned before Justice Olalekan Olatawura on December 16, 2021 on two-count charge of an attempt to sexually assault and grievously harm of one Kolawole Omotola.
  
According to the charge, the convict on Decemeber 13, 2021 at Ado Ekiti, did attempt to sexually molest one Kolawole Omotola, and also caused grievous harm on her.
    
The offences contravened sections 359 and 335 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
   

“He started hitting my head on the wall and punching me in the face, I was shouting loudly, this attracted my neighbours, who came to my rescue after he had overpowered me. He was handed over to the police, while I was taken to the hospital for medical treatment due to the bodily injury, I sustained during the struggle.”
  
The prosecutor, Olasanmi Oluwaseun, called two witnesses and tendered statements of the victim, witnesses and the defendant as exhibits.
 
In his defence, Oluwatosin through his counsel admitted and confessed to have committed the offences.
 
He said: ‘’When I broke to her house, I wanted to have sex with her because she looked sexy and beautiful. It was painful for not succeeding  in having sex with her.  I overpowered her, but she was rescued by neighbours.”
Delivering his judgment, Justice Olatawura found the defendant guilty as charged in both counts.
 
In considering the appropriate sentence, the judge said: “I take notice of the fact that sexually aggravated assaults on females have alarmingly increased within this jurisdiction and it must be nipped in the bud.

“The defendant showed no remorse up to this point. He is in my own opinion, not only a clear and present danger, but also a threat to women and should not be given any sympathetic consideration.

“So to serve as a deterrent to other people or person of his like, the defendant is hereby sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with daily  strokes of cane in respect of count one (attempt to rape) and two years imprisonment in count two (grievous harm).”