75-year-old man bags 10 years imprisonment for defiling minor in Rivers

A Rivers State Family Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 75-year-old man, Promise Chukwumatti, to ten years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine for defiling an 11-year-old girl.

The trial judge, Justice Rita Oguguo, in her judgment, held that the prosecution had proved the one-count charge of defilement against the convict through oral and confessional statements, as well as other evidence presented before the court.

The court heard that Chukwumatti had carnal knowledge of the minor several times in his apartment after luring her with various sums of money while she was on her way to school.

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Delivering the judgment, Justice Oguguo said although the convict pleaded for leniency, the law was clear that such an offence attracts life imprisonment. She, however, noted that the court considered the plight of the convict’s children, who are without a mother, in sentencing him to 10 years in prison without the option of a fine.

The judge, who described the convict as a shame to fatherhood, also ordered him to pay the sum of one million naira as compensation to the family of the victim. The court further directed that Chukwumatti’s name be entered into the Rivers State Sex Offenders’ Register.

A restraining order was also issued, barring the convict and his family from going close to the victim’s family.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that while counsel for the convict declined to comment on the judgment, the prosecution counsel, Chief State Counsel Precious Ordu from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, lauded the verdict, saying it would serve as a deterrent to others.

“It is a good judgment; I will take it in good faith. Justice has finally been served. The court also ordered that the name of the defendant should be included in the list of defilement offenders in the state. The judgment will serve as a way of making others who have intentions of committing the offence of defilement stay away from minors. This judgment will discourage them from carrying out this offence,” Ordu said.