A High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced 56-year-old Jayeoba Oluwafemi to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling his 14-year-old stepdaughter, in violation of Section 31(2) of the Child's Right Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

Justice Adekunle Adeleye delivered the judgment on Monday, May 26, 2025, concluding a case that began when the defendant was first arraigned on December 4, 2020, on one count charge of defilement.

According to court records, the offense was committed on October 26, 2020, in Ado-Ekiti when the victim's mother was away in Lagos. The victim testified that the defendant, who had married her mother, would frequently sleep at their house when her mother was absent.

"On October 26, 2020, my mother travelled to Lagos and the defendant slept in our house. At midnight, he forcefully had sex with me, and afterward, blood was gushing out of my virgina," the victim stated in her testimony.

The victim further revealed that the defendant continued the sexual abuse whenever her mother was not around. Despite reporting these incidents to her mother upon her return, no action was taken. When the defendant noticed the victim was informing her mother about the abuse, he began threatening her.

The case came to light when the victim, fleeing from the defendant's attempt to beat her, encountered a woman on the road who directed her to the governor's office to file an official complaint, leading to the defendant's arrest.

The prosecution, led by Julius Ajibare, presented six witnesses and submitted the defendant's statement and medical report as evidence. The defense counsel, Oladele Adedeji, called one witness.

In his ruling, Justice Adeleye stated, "I am of the humble view that the sexual intercourse sessions were on several occasions, it was not a one-off affair." He added that the defendant's denial was "an afterthought" and that the prosecution had established the offense of defilement beyond reasonable doubt.

"He is accordingly found guilty as charged and hereby sentenced to life imprisonment as provided for under the provisions of Section 31(2) of the Child's Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012," Justice Adeleye concluded.