The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at the High Court of Awka, Anambra State, has convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old final-year Mass Communication student, Wisdom Edem, to 25 years, five years and five years imprisonment, respectively for rape, sexual abuse and inflicting injury on a 10-year-old girl.
In the Charge No. A/3C/2024, obtained by our correspondent in Awka, on Friday, the court was presided over by Justice Peace Otti, on Wednesday.
Justice Otti found the defendant guilty on a three-count Charge No. A/3C/2024: The State vs. Wisdom Edem.
The three-count charge read, “Count 1: Rape, contrary to Section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
“Count 2: Sexual Abuse and Exploitation – contrary to Section 35(2) of the Child’s Rights Law.
“Count 3: Inflicting Physical Injury – contrary to Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Anambra State, 2017.
The prosecution was led by the Principal State Counsel of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Chinelo Akorah, who called six witnesses and tendered compelling documents, including the confessional statement of the defendant and the medical report.
The charge sheet read, “PW1, the 10-year-old victim, told the Court in vivid detail how the Defendant deceived her into coming to his house for a ‘comedy skit’.
“The victim said she had acted with the defendant and others before, so she went with her younger sister. On arrival, the Defendant sent the younger sister home to get a change of clothes for PW1, then asked her to go into his room where ‘others were waiting’.
“Inside, she met no one. He locked the door, defiled her, and she began to bleed. The medical doctor who examined her that same day testified in court and confirmed the bleeding and injuries.
“The Defendant, in his defence, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the victim seduced him.”
However, the Court dismissed his claim that the child “seduced him.”
He alleged that the girl removed his clothes, inserted his penis into her vagina and screamed.
He also claimed she told him she was 14 and had a boyfriend.
The Court rejected this, noting that the presence of blood proved she was a virgin.
However, the judge in her ruling held that a child is not capable of giving consent under the law.
The Court, therefore, described the act as premeditated and carefully planned.
“Worse still, he was not even paying the child for the so-called comedy skit. To add salt to injury, he raped her.”
The Judge held that PW1’s account was fully corroborated by the Defendant’s confessional statement, which admitted that the victim came to his house with her younger sister.
The prosecution’s case was further strengthened by the testimonies of PW2 to PW6, including the police officer and vigilante who arrested the Defendant.
The Defendant, who was on bail and was present in court for his trial, was absent on the day of judgment.
The Learned Judge proceeded to deliver the judgment in his absence in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State.
The Judge immediately issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ordered that he be declared wanted, with his photographs circulated to the police and on the internet.
The judge held that “the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through eyewitness testimony, overwhelming circumstantial evidence, and the Defendant’s own confessional statement.
“The Court also directed the Defendant’s university not to issue him a certificate until he completes his prison term.”
He was further ordered to pay a fine of N200,000 as compensation to the victim for the physical injury inflicted on her.
The Principal State Counsel and PRO, FIDA, were commended for a job well done in securing this conviction.
This judgment reaffirms that Anambra State has zero tolerance for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and the Anambra State Ministry of Justice remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
