Court sentences Osun politician to life imprisonment for raping pregnant woman

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has sentenced a politician in Osun State to life imprisonment for raping a pregnant woman.Obafemi Kolawole, a political associate to one Ganiyu Oladiran, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ilesa, was on September 23 convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with whipping.

A.B Abdulkareem, the trial judge, while finding Mr. Kolawole guilty noted that although the corroboration of a secondprosecution witness was limited to assault, it does not corroborate penetration which is the vital ingredient necessary for rape.

However, the medical report tendered by one Dr. Isawumi corroborated the neededpenetration necessary to convict the accused.

The judge thereafter held that Rachel Ojimi, the prosecution counsel and a Chief State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, had been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He, however, struck out the charge of indecent assault since it carries a lesser punishment.

According to the prosecution, Mr. Kolawole, on 15th September, 2007, raped a pregnant lady (names withheld to avoid stigmatization), a member of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN (now All Progressives Congress, APC) who was pregnant at the time of the incident.

The event occurred after the 2007 gubernatorial election in Osun State.

The prosecution charged Mr. Kolawole before the State High Court on a two-count charge of rape and indecent assault contrary to Sections 358 and 360 of the Criminal Code cap 34, Vol II, Laws of Osun.

Four prosecution witnesses were called namely: the pregnant lady, Lawal Sikiru, Dr. A.I Isawumi, and Olatunji Arojo, a police Sergeant and the Investigating Police Officer; while Mr. Kolawole testified in his defence, along with Mr. Oladiran, Adediran Kehinde, Adewusi Olowolodu and Olayinka Alege.

At the trial, the lady said that on September 15,  2007, the convict and his cohorts, who are not Police Officers came to arrest her at her house at about 7:30p.m. for an unknown offence. On sighting them and knowing their antecedents in the vicinity, she took to her heels. The convict pursued, caught up with her, and beat her up.

Having  overpowered her, the lady said the convict stripped her naked and raped her, and that when her cry for help became unbearable, he covered her mouth.