By Akeem Oduyoye
An Abeokuta Magistrates Court in Ogun State, presided over by Justice Mrs O.O Odumosu, on Friday sentenced a teenager, named as Adeola Saheed, to six months imprisonment for attempting to rape a 35-year-old woman.
Saheed, 19, who resides in the Brewery area of Abeokuta, in the state capital, was charged with conspiracy, indecent assault and attempt to rape.
The magistrate Odumosu, in her ruling said that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty as charged.
She sentenced Saheed to six months imprisonment for each of the three counts, with an option of N300,000 fine, just as she also added that the jail term should run concurrently.
Earlier during the trial, the prosecutor, ASP Olakunle Shonibare, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Oct.12, 2023 at about 12:30 pm, at Olomore Housing Estate in Abeokuta
Shonibare, whjo said that that the defendant conspired with one other now at large to commit the offence, explained that the defendant ran into the complainant’s compound with a plank and screw driver, pretending to be chasing a thief.
“When he got to the compound he saw the complainant washing clothes outside her house and asked if she saw any one that ran into her compound and if she was the only one in the compound.
“The complainant, on replying to the convict, said that she was the only one in the compound and that she did not see any thief run into her compound.
“When she picked up her phone and tried calling her husband, the convict attacked her.
“Immediately, the convict attacked her with the plank he was holding, held her neck, and tore her cloth, with an attempt to rape her, but fortunately the husband to the complainant came to her rescue,” he said.
The offence contravened sections 516, 360, and 359 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.