Akwa Ibom State High Court in Okoita, Ibiono Local Government Area has sentenced a self-styled Prophet to 21 years in prison for raping his 10-year-old step-daughter.
Anwana Peter Essien, a native of Afaha Ise in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, is said to have raped the JSS One student on August 9, 2019, when her mother brought her and her younger sister for an holiday with their step-father in his house at Itiam Street, Uyo.
The 37-year-old prophet of Restoration Bible Church, Itiam Street, Uyo in his evidence before the Court, had confessed that it was demon that pushed him in the midnight to forcefully remove the clothes of his step-daughter and had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
Also read: Man bags Death, Life Imprisonment for Robbery, Rape in Akwa Ibom
“I know the victim of this case. She is my wife’s daughter. In the month of August, 2019, she came to my house at Itiam Street, Uyo. I gave her food and she ate. Then after eating, I told her to remove her clothes, but she refused. From there, I forced her and removed her clothes.
‘‘I was the one that used my hand and removed my penis and forcefully inserted into her vagina and had canal knowledge of her. It is true that when I tried to put my penis inside her vagina, my penis was not able to enter her vagina. When I was having sex with her, I did not use any condom,” the convict stated.
In its judgement, the Court presided over by Justice Okon Okon held that the confession was “direct, positive and unequivocal that the randy stepfather had sexual intercourse with his step daughter.”
Justice Okon said “the parameters established for the proof of rape, have all been satisfied by the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, including the victim and the medical doctor who examined her, fortified by the confessional statement voluntarily made by the accused person himself.”
The Court further held that “it is most despicable and depressing, that the supposed man of God overpowered and defiled an innocent child of about 10 years who incidentally, is his own step daughter.”
Justice Okon described the conduct as “bizarre and degrading,” saying “the defendant lacks any claim of moral rectitude having thrown overboard, the limits of his liberties by shamelessly stripping and polluting the dignity, chastity and sanctity of his step daughter’s body and totally disregarding her under age status.”
The Court found Anwana Peter Essien guilty as charged and accordingly convicted him.
Justice Okon said the 21 years’ imprisonment is with effect from when the convict was taken into custody in the Custodial Centre, Uyo.
The convict begged the Court to release him, as he has a son with nobody to take care of him.
