A High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state has sentenced one Seun Ayeni, to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl.

Ayeni who is a welder, was arrested by the personnel of the Ondo State Police Command for raping the victim, who is said to be his neighbour’s niece, at the Oke Aro area of the town in March 2017.

The offender was said to have waylaid the victim on her way to the toilet and lured her into his room, where forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

During the trial, the convict denied raping the girl, saying the victim’s aunt wanted to implicate him as a result of a disagreement between them.

But the trial judge, Justice Samuel Bola, while delivering his verdict,  held that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were genuine, while Ayeni’s testimony was unacceptable.

The judge noted that the examination conducted by a medical doctor confirmed that the victim was raped.

The court also stated that the prosecution had proved its case against the convict beyond reasonable doubt and thereby found him guilty of the offence.

Having found him guilty, the judge sentenced Ayeni to life imprisonment.