Ekiti State High Court Sentences Two Teachers to 44 Years Imprisonment for Rape and Abuse of Office
An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced two teachers, Gbenga Ajibola (43) and Ayodele Olaofe (52), to a combined 44 years in prison for raping minors and abusing their positions of authority. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Adeniyi Familoni.
The defendants were arraigned on March 2, 2022, on three counts of rape and abuse of office. According to the charges, Ajibola raped a 17-year-old girl, while Olaofe raped a 15-year-old girl in November 2019, violating Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. Additionally, both defendants were accused of abusing their offices as public servants, contrary to Section 104 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
During the trial, one of the victims testified that Ajibola, her computer teacher, had instructed her to wear casual clothes and gave her N200 to wait at a filling station along Bank Road in Ado Ekiti. She recounted that Ajibola and Olaofe arrived and took her and another classmate to a hotel in the Oke-Ila area, where they were separated into different rooms. The victim stated that Ajibola raped her and continued to harass her afterward. She eventually confided in her mother, who reported the incident.
The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemi, presented four witnesses and submitted evidence, including the victims’ and defendants’ statements, medical reports, and findings from the Panel of Enquiry. The defendants, represented by their lawyer, denied the allegations, claiming they were politically motivated. They called six witnesses and presented exhibits to support their innocence.
In his ruling, Justice Familoni condemned the defendants for their actions, stating that they had “seared their minds and mulled the voice of conscience” while exploiting the victims. He emphasized the need for severe punishment to deter others from similar crimes.
Ajibola was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the first count of rape, while Olaofe received a 20-year sentence for the second count of rape. Both defendants were also sentenced to two years imprisonment each for abuse of office. The sentences are to run concurrently.