Bricklayer bags 12 years for raping teenager

An Ikeja High Court has sentenced a 33-year-old bricklayer, Taoreed Oseni, to 12 years imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old hawker at a public toilet.

Oseni who resides in Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos State, was sentenced after being found guilty of a one-count charge of rape by Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya.

Ogunsanya said “I hereby sentence the accused to 12 years imprisonment without an option of fine. The sentence will take effect from Aug. 2, 2012, which is the date the accused has been in prison custody.”

The prosecution, led by the state counsel, Adebayo Haroun, had told the court during the trial that the convict actually committed the offence.

Haroun said that Oseni committed the offence sometime in July 2012 at a public toilet at the Mafoluku area of Lagos. He said the convict lured her to the back of a public toilet by telling her that her friend wanted to see her.

“When she got to the back of the toilet, the convict overpowered her by breaking a bottle on her head. The convict then forcefully have carnal knowledge of the victim despite her plea and cry for help,’’ Haroun said.

He said the offence violated Section 258 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011. The law states “Any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl without her consent is guilty of the offence of rape and liable to imprisonment for life.’’ (NAN)