A Bayelsa State High Court sitting at Yenagoa, on Friday, sentenced a rapist, Super Ojo, alias Bestman, to 21 years in prison for raping a lady (name withheld).
Ojo, said to be the leader of a cult group, Bobos, learnt his fate at State High Court 2, presided over by Justice Margaret Akpomiemie.
The convict and nine other members of his gang were said to have raped the lady at Akaba in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in 2011.
Ojo was arraigned in the court in May 2014 on a four-count of conspiracy, rape, murder and membership of an unlawful group.
The accused was said to have gone to the lady’s house with four other persons, dragged her out and forcibly took her to a bush where five other persons were waiting and raped her one by one.
The lady was said to have been blindfolded as she was being gang-raped and after the assault, was given a machete cut on her back as part of initiation into their cult.
It was learnt that up till now, the lady is still ill.
A brother of the victim was said to have been murdered by members of the gang when he failed to heed their instruction to secure the release of one of their members arrested by the Police.
In her judgement, Justice Akpomiemie said she had carefully studied the arguments of both the prosecution and defence counsels as well as the testimonies of the victim.
The judge said she was convinced that the allegations against the accused had been proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution with the exception of count 3.
Akpomiemie also made reference to a medical report, which stated that the victim suffered bleeding from her private part, a situation which made the FMC to reject the victim, who was later referred to the National Hospital for treatment.
In sentencing the accused, Akpomiemie said Ojo was guilty of conspiracy as he conspired with others to rape the victim.
She, therefore, sentenced him to five years in jail for conspiracy without an option of fine.
On the second count, which was rape, the judge sentenced the accused to 21 years in prison.
Akpomiemie, however, struck out count three, on want of evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
On count four, which borders on membership of a cult, the judge found the accused guilty as charged and convicted him to two years in prison.
Akpomiemie, however, ruled that all the sentences were to run concurrently.
No comments:
Post a Comment