A judge of the Ekiti State High Court, John Adeyeye, on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 granted pardon to a rapist, Dennis Kiyede, just after he was convicted for raping a 16-year-old girl.
The judge giving his reason for pardoning the rapist said it was because of his ill health.
The Nigerian police prosecuted Kiyede on a one-count-charge of rape of his 16-year-old cousin. who was residing with him.
He committed the said crime on February 14, 2019 at Ilupeju, Ijan Ekiti.
In his judgment, Mr Adeyeye noted that the prosecution had established that the offence of rape was committed by the accused person.
“I find him guilty of the offence as charged and he is accordingly convicted,” he said.
The judge, however, went on to pardon the convicted man, citing health reasons.
“It is obvious that the accused is very ill as he could no longer stand on his feet,” the judge said.
“The accused person, who has been in custody since he was arrested, must have learnt his lessons.
“In the circumstances, the accused person is hereby cautioned and discharged.”
The prosecution held that the offence violated section 31(2) of the Childs Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2005.
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To prove his case, the prosecutor, Felix Awoniyi, called two witnesses while the accused confessional statement was also tendered as exhibit.
The accused spoke through a counsel from Legal Aid Council, Yinka Opaleke, who during allocutus pleaded passionately with the court for clemency, describing the accused as a first offender.
Mr Opaleke added that the accused had been in the police custody since he was arrested and above all, was seriously ill and could no longer stand on his feet.
This comes after the state governor, Kayode Fayemi launched a crackdown on rape in the state.
