An Ado Ekiti High Court has sentenced an Anglican Priest, Gabriel Asateru, 53, to five- year imprisonment for raping a minor.
Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde in her judgement said Asateru stands guilty and accordingly convicted to serve a prison of 5 years, adding that the convict pay a sum of N50, 000 fine as stipulated by child’s rights law 2005.
The Prosecuting State counsel, Ronke Odetola alleged the convict defiled a five-year-old girl (name withheld) on December 23, 2016 at Ifisin Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government area of the State.
The priest was arrested by the police and transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department(CID) section of the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti for prosecution.
Odetola said the committed the offence was contrary to section 31 of the Child’s Rights Law Cap 7 , Laws of Ekiti State Nigeria, 2005.
The suit with registration number HAD/112/ 117 was first heard on January, 2018 before Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde on a one count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
At the hearing stage, Odetola tendered the Doctor’s Report and the defendant’s statement on oath to prosecute her case.
He called three witnesses to testify against the priest.
But Barrister Olanrewaju Oluwasola stood for the accused person.
