23-year-old acquitted of rape after two years in jail

Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday discharged and acquitted 23-year-old Victory Tasie, who had been accused of raping his 19-year-old girlfriend, after spending two years in prison.

The judge made the ruling on a no-case submission filed by the defendant through his counsel, Mrs. Rukayat Owolabi, dated March 19, 2024.

Justice Soladoye stated that the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof required to establish defilement against Tasie. She emphasized the importance of the testimony of the alleged survivor, Tasie's girlfriend, who confirmed in court that she was not raped by him and that they were in a consensual relationship.

"The defence counsel filed a no-case submission dated March 19, stating that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge of defilement against the defendant and urged the court to discharge and acquit him," said Justice Soladoye. "I have carefully considered the submissions and find that the prosecution failed to prove the charge of defilement against the defendant. The defendant has no case to answer, and he is hereby discharged and acquitted."

The state government had accused Tasie of defiling the alleged survivor when she was 16 years old, as per the charge. However, in her testimony, she clarified that she was 19 years old at the time of the incident and that the sexual encounter leading to pregnancy was consensual, as they were in a romantic relationship.

The judge's decision to discharge and acquit Tasie was based on the lack of sufficient evidence to support the defilement charge, as confirmed by the testimony of the alleged survivor.