Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo , the Akwa Ibom State capital, has sentenced a 23-years old man , Iniobong Moses, to life imprisonment for raping his 3- year -old step -daughter at Ikot Akpe village in Uyo Local Government Area of the state.
The Court presided over by Justice Okon Okon held on Wednesday that Moses is guilty of rape , contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. 2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria , 2000.
He described the convict as “ a disgrace to humanity, whose conduct falls abysmally below even the conduct of beasts . ”
According to the judge, “ The convict’ s indefensible and despicable act has shown that he is callous and devoid of passion” .
He further held that the convict “ does not deserve to walk freely on Nigerian soil and breathe the air of freedom meant for decent members of the society . ”
“ In her childhood and angelic innocence and vulnerability , the victim could even have been looking at the accused gleefully in naivety expecting no hurt from the accused in loco parentis with her. ”
The convict, a native of Afaha Udo Eyop in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state had, in his confessional statement , said he was drunk and that he “ defiled the infant by putting his fingers and penis into the victim’ s vagina on 8th November 2019 when his wife left for the market. ”
However, the Court rejected the claim that he was drunk , saying “ drunkenness is not an exculpatory defence in Law for the commission of a crime , and more so , as it was self -inflicted . ”
The Police Medical Report indicated a history of abnormal vaginal discharge and wounds on the labium of the victim , a case of sexual assault with genital ulcer and genital tract infections.
The Court held that Moses “ deserves to be put away for a long time from public glare to save innocent children from being further brutalised and ravished by him . ”
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