The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ibritam, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state has sentenced a 32-year-old man, Akaninyene Sunday Ekwere, to life imprisonment for rape.
It was gathered that Ekwere, an engine oil, electrical appliances and recharge card seller lured a 4-year-old girl to his shop where he defiled her.
It was learnt that the mother of the victim discovered bruises around her daughter’s private parts while bathing her, prompting her to report the matter to the police.
In his confessional statement, Ekwere, an indigene of Ikot Ibritam and a neighbour of 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 parts and raped her.
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In his judgment, Justice Nkereuwem Obot, said Ekwere did not deserve to live in the midst of sane people as he was dangerous to society.
Obot found the accused guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The convict, popularly called “Doctor”, pleaded with the court to have mercy on him, saying he is a married man.
Under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Laws, 2020, rape carries life imprisonment and the name of the perpetrator entered in the registrar of sex offenders in the state.
