An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has sentenced 23-year-old Idris Rasheed to 12 years in prison for raping a woman in purdah.
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Oyeyemi Ajayi, who ruled that Rasheed was guilty based on his confession and medical evidence confirming penetration and the presence of semen.
The court established that Rasheed’s jail term would begin from January 29, 2023, when he was arraigned.
Defence counsel, Mr. O. Ekundayo, pleaded for leniency, highlighting that the convict had already spent over 19 months in custody at Agodi Prison, where he reportedly learned his lesson and endured significant hardship.
However, the prosecution, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Mrs. K. Oloso-Olayiwola, detailed the events leading to the crime.
The 29-year-old victim, a petty trader and divorcee, was on her way home at around 10 p.m. when she sought directions to the nearest mosque from Rasheed.
Instead of assisting her, Rasheed attacked her, gripping her neck, throwing her to the ground, and raping her by the roadside.
The crime contravened Section 357 and is punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State 2000. The court upheld the charge, reaffirming its commitment to justice for sexual violence survivors.
