An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday sentenced 23-year-old Idris Rasheed to 12 years’ imprisonment for the rape of a woman in purdah.
Delivering judgment, Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi stated that the convict’s confession to the crime, coupled with the medical report confirming penetration and the presence of semen, established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge ordered that the 12-year sentence should commence from 29 January 2023, the date of the convict’s arraignment.
During the mitigation plea, defence counsel Mr O. Ekundayo highlighted that the convict had already spent 19 months and nine days in Agodi Prison. He emphasised the convict’s good behaviour and the lessons learned during his incarceration. Ekundayo urged the court to exercise judicial leniency.
Earlier, the prosecution, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Mrs K. Oloso-Olayiwola, detailed the incident. The 29-year-old victim, a petty trader and divorcee, was attacked at around 10pm while walking home. She had approached Rasheed to inquire about the nearest mosque. However, he seized the opportunity to assault her, dragging her to the ground and raping her.
The offence was charged under Section 357 and is punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State 2000.
