PAUL ADAMU GALINJE, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellant herein, was arraigned before the Ekiti State High Court sitting at Ado-Ekiti on a two counts charge of rape and murder on the 7th day of March, 2011, under Sections 358 and 316 of the Criminal Law Vol. II Laws of Ondo State, 1978 as applicable to Ekiti State respectively. These offences were alleged to have been committed on or about the 17th of August 2006 at Oke-Sele Farm, Igirigiri, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
When the charge was read and explained to the Appellant, he pleaded not guilty to the two counts.
In order to establish its case, the Respondent herein called three witnesses while the Appellant gave evidence in his defence and called no further evidence. Thereafter, learned Counsel on both sides addressed the Court. In a reserved and considered judgment which was delivered on the 14th January, 2013, Akintayo, J., found the Appellant guilty on both counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment on count …