Anglican priest jailed for defiling minor

TRACKING >>AN Ado-Ekiti High Court on Monday sentenced an Anglican priest, Gabriel Asateru, to five years imprisonment for raping a minor.

Delivering judgment, Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde said Asateru, 53, stands guilty and is convicted to serve a prison term of five years, adding that the convict will pay N50, 000 fine as stipulated by the Child’s Rights Law 2005.

Prosecuting counsel Ronke Odetola said the convict defiled a five-year-old girl on December 23, 2016 at Ifisin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The priest was arrested by the police and transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ado-Ekiti for prosecution.

Odetola said the offence was contrary to Section 31 of the Child’s Rights Law Cap 7, Laws of Ekiti State Nigeria, 2005.

Read Also: Guard ‘defiles’ daughter, three other minors

The suit with registration number HAD/112/ 117 was first heard in January 2018 before Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde on a one-count charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Odetola tendered the doctor’s report and the defendant’s statement on oath to prosecute her case.

She called three witnesses to testify against the priest.

Olanrewaju Oluwasola stood for the accused person.