Taiwo Ajayi, a secondary school principal has been handed a life sentence by an Ado-Ekiti high court for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl.

Ajayi reportedly lured the girl into his office, locked the door and raped her on the table while covering her mouth with a cloth.

Oluwatoyin Abodunde, who gave the verdict, said the principal was guilty as charged.

“The prosecution has proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt on the strength of evidence placed before the court,” he said.

“The cases of child defilement has been on the increase lately and to serve as a deterrent to others, my view is that

the punishment stipulated by the lawmakers was deliberate to deter the offence and protect the right to dignity

of the child.

“The defence counsel is pleading for leniency and praying for fine instead of the due punishment. My question is: ‘who pays the victim for the life-time scar or the trauma and torture of rape?’

“I am unable to deviate from the provisions of the law in this instance; the defendant is found guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

Two teachers were said to have stormed the vice-principal’s office but could not gain entry until after about 30 minutes and caught him red-handed.

At the arraignment on October 14, 2016, Ajayi had pleaded not guilty.

The two panels set up to investigate the case indicted Ajayi which led to his suspension from service after which he was arrested and prosecuted.