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A 32-year-old man identified as Akaninyene Sunday Ekwere has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 4-year-old girl in Ikot Ibritam, Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Ekwere was convicted yesterday by Justice Nkereuwem Obot of the state High Court Ikot Ibritam Oruk Anam, after he found him guilty of the offense.
Ekwere, who trades on engine oil, electrical appliances and recharge cards reportedly lured the minor and last child of a family of five to his shop where he defiled her.
Newsmen gathered yesterday that the mother of the victim discovered the bruises around her private part when she bathed her, prompting her parents to report the matter to the Police.
In his confessional statement, Ekwere, who is a neighbour to the victim, said he saw the minor playing outside the compound and invited her to his shop, where he rubbed vaseline oil on her private part and raped her.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Nkereuwem Obot said Akaninyene Ekwere does not deserve to live in the midst of sane people as he is dangerous to the society.
Obot found the accused guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The convict who is popularly called “Doctor” pleaded with the Court to have mercy upon him as he is a married man.
Under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Laws, 2020, rape carries life imprisonment in addition to the name of the victim being entered in the registrar of sex offenders in the state.
