In a verdict handed down by the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, Oluwagbemi Alabi, a 45-year-old teacher, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the rape of an eight-year-old girl.
Alabi, who committed the crime in 1999, faced arraignment on August 25, 2023, on a single count of rape.
According to the charge, “Alabi Oluwafemi, sometime in 1999 at Ikere Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did rape an eight-year-old girl.”
During the trial, the victim, who identified Alabi as her teacher and neighbor, recounted the harrowing experience: “He would touch my breast each time he came to teach me at home. It wasn’t until he raped me in our sitting room, when my mother was away in Lagos, that I understood the gravity of his actions.”
The trauma led the victim to drop out of school, stating, “I was fearful every time I saw him in class.”
Years later, in 2012, Alabi attempted to reconnect via Facebook, which the victim rejected. However, in 2023, he resumed his disturbing behavior, prompting her to seek legal action.
To support the case, prosecutor Kunle-Shina Adeyemo presented two witnesses and submitted evidence, including a confession from the defendant and communication records.
In his defense, Alabi, represented by lawyer Ademola Adeyemi, called upon two witnesses.
