40- Year- Old- Man Sentenced To Seven Years Imprisonment For Defiling His 12- Year- Old House Help (READ DETAILS HERE)
A 40- year- old man identified as, Ifeanyi Ezeji has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine by a Magistrate Court Sitting in Port Harcourt, for defiling his 12- year- old house help.
He was convicted on one count charge bordering on unlawful se×ual abuse of the minor on 11 February 2019 at his house located at the Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt.
Felicitas Amanze, the Chief Magistrate, in her judgement, said the defence team wws unable to contradict the evidence before the court, adding that the prosecution team proved its case.
The chief magistrate also said that Ezeji’ s denial of his statement was an afterthought.
The court frowned at the attempts by Ezeji and the victim’ s family to settle out of court.
The Chief Magistrate ruled that the Ezeji was guilty of the offence punishable under Section 32 of the Child Rights Act.
Amanze said that the man lying to the court that the victim who was a minor had interest in him before he had carnal knowledge of her was an act of wickedness.
Amanze, further said that the victim’ s medical report, the N150, 000 offered to the victim’ s parents as settlement and the confessional statement made by the convict were proof that the defendant actually committed the crime.
Counsel to the convict, Lucy Effiong, while speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, thanked the court for being lenient on her client, adding that Ezeji actually committed the crime.
She said, ” The defendant defiled a child of 12 years and at that instance, a lot of investigation entered into the matter. When we came to the final conclusion, we discovered that he (Ezeji) actually committed the offence.
” Out of shame, the parents of the young girl took her out of Port Harcourt. I just thank God for the wisdom of the magistrate who looked into the matter. She was able to fish out the truth in it.
” The medical report was tendered and the investigation took place by the police. They were able to prove that this young child was actually defiled. “
Reacting to the judgement, Esther Achor- Korienta, counsel representing the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Rivers State, urged victims to stop accepting settlement in cases of child defilement.
Please share this news and subscribe to this channel for more news updates.
