Stephanus Stephen was sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Ondo State Chief Magistrate’s Court in Akure, the state capital, for raping a 15-year-old girl.
The convict was arrested and charged in court for having carnal knowledge of the teenager on Morolayo Street in Valentino, Ondo State, between February and May 2022.
Mr Benard Olagbayi, the prosecutor, told the court during the arraignment that the convict molested the victim on several occasions.
In part, the charge stated, “That you, Stephanus Stephen, between February and May 2022 on Morobayo Street, Valentine, Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial District, did unlawfully have carnal knowledge of a 15-year-old girl (names withheld), thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 221(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
Olagbayi asked the court to sentence the 20-year-old man, who was not represented in court by an attorney.
Mrs Charity Adeyanju, the magistrate, found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to 12 months in prison without the option of a fine.
The victim described her ordeal, saying “I was asleep in our living room when Stephen came to meet me and started touching me. I was scared. So, I started shouting; but nobody was around. It was just myself and him in the house.
“He forced himself on me and raped me. He was much stronger than me. He also told me not to talk and that if I should tell anyone, he would kill me. I was scared to tell anybody because of his threat.”
