Pascal Arogorn Ibe
A Court of Appeal sitting in Akure , the Ondo State capital , on Tuesday sentenced a man , Ijiwande Francis , to 15 years ’ imprisonment for raping an underage girl.
The 37-year – old man was said to have committed the offence on November 4, 2010 in Ile Ife , Osun State , and was arrested by the police and charged to court thereafter .
He was later arraigned before the Chief Magistrates ’ Court at Ile -Ife , Osun State , on December 8, 2010, on three counts of rape , indecent assault and defilement.
Francis was granted bail in the sum of N 50, 000 with two sureties in like sum at the magistrates’ court , while the case was later transferred to the state High Court , Ile Ife.
At the High Court , the trial judge, Justice Akanbi Siyanbola , in March 2020, discharged and acquitted the convict of the charges preferred against him .
Not satisfied with the judgement, the state prosecuting counsel , Mr Moses Faremi, filed an appeal on behalf of the Osun State Government at the Court of Appeal, Akure , Ondo State .
The appellate court , presided over by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, in its ruling , set aside the judgment of the lower court and found Francis guilty of the charges preferred against him .
The court sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment without option of fine .
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