Two Nigerians, Tosin Dada and Solomon Adebiyi, are facing the possibility of life imprisonment after being convicted of multiple rape charges by a jury at the Northampton Crown Court in the United Kingdom. The two men were found guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl in March 2022, despite their claims that the sexual encounter was consensual.
According to the Northamptonshire Police, the pair were charged with three counts of rape each. The nine-day trial ended with a unanimous verdict, after eight hours of deliberation by the jury. Both men were remanded in custody and are set to be sentenced on October 25, 2024.
Lawtons Solicitors, a UK-based law firm, and Rape Crisis (England & Wales), a feminist charity, have highlighted that under the UK’s Sexual Offences Act 2003, rape carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. However, a life sentence in the UK often means the individual may serve 15 years before being eligible for release, followed by lifelong supervision.
While the average prison sentence for rape typically ranges from 4 to 19 years, the severity of the case could lead to a more extended sentence. Dada and Adebiyi, both in their 30s, now await their sentencing, which could include life in prison due to the nature of their crime.
