Babatunde Ibitoye, owner of God’s Grace Nursery and Primary School, Fayemi Market, Agric Olope Area, Ajilosun in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, was today sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Ado Ekiti High Court, for raping a 10-year old girl, who was his pupil as at the time the offence was committed, on June 10, 2013.
The State Ministry of Justice had, through a suit number HAD/F11/2013, preferred a one-count charge of rape against Ibitoye. In her brief judgement, Justice Toyin Abodunde agreed with the evidence of the plaintiff in the case, saying she had been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had sexually abused her.
Ibitoye was caught on June 10, 2013, in a bush where he sexually abused the victim under the guise that he was taking her home after school hours. He was said to have carried about four pupils in his bus and driven towards a bushy area to excrete, but only to enter the bush with the victim.
Before entering the bush, Ibitoye had sent other pupils on different errands. Sensing danger, some auto mechanics operating within the vicinity tip-toed towards the bush where they caught Ibitoye having sex with the girl. Some of the teachers gave evidence that the girl bled profusely few days before the day Ibitoye was caught.