BREAKING NEWS: ALOWA OF ILOWA-IJESA FREED OF RAPE CHARGE

 Justice Oyejide Falola of an Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun discharged and acquitted The Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adebukola Alli, who had been standing trial over alleged rape of a former National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, Miss Helen Okpara.

Justice Falola, in his judgment, held that the complainant failed to show to the court enough evidence that she was raped, noting that  a case of rape could only be established with exhibits such as bed sheet, the victim’s pant and a medical report indicating forceful penetration, adding that the prosecutor failed to tender all these. .

However, Justice Falola expressed displeasure on the attitude of the traditional ruler, saying that he had denigrated royalty by sleeping with a corps member serving in his domain.’’ the monarch had, through his action, taken royalty into the dunghill and brought disgrace to his family and the community he rule’’,  the judge said.

The controversial case in which the ex-corps member had alleged that the monarch raped her at his private residence in Osogbo, had suffered long adjournment at both the Magistrate’s and High courts before it was eventually determined yesterday.

Okpara, a 23-year-old ex-corps member, who served at the monarch’s domain between 2010 and 2011, had alleged that the monarch forcefully had canal knowledge of her when he cunningly took her to his private residence located at Rasco area, Osogbo.

Citing Justice Falola, while citing the case of Corporal Nicholas versus the Nigerian Army, Justice Falola, in his over one hour judgment, stressed that a case of rape must be proved with injuries sustained on the private part and other parts of the body, said the court was not convinced that Miss Okpara sustained any injury on any part of her body and that the court was able to establish that both the monarch and the complainant had been having sexual relationship before a misunderstanding ensued between them.

Justice Falola said that from all evidences before the court, Miss Okpara was well known to everybody at both the palace and the private residence of the monarch.

He blamed the police for poor investigation of the matter, stressing that police failed to conduct proper and objective investigations into the matter

He, however, condemned such relationship involving a traditional ruler, saying his action had brought his stool into disrepute as well as disgrace to his family , community  and added that  social and moral behaviours are not punishable under the laws of the land, and thereby declared that the monarch should be discharged and acquitted.