A 40-year-old man is to spend the rest of his years on this earth in a correctional centre for raping an eight-year-old boy, Akwa Ibom State High Court has ordered.
Aniekan John Udom, a native of Ikot Nkim in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state, was caught raping the primary the four pupil residing at 12 Anyan-Ikot Street, off Abak Road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital in August 2020.
While arraigning the accused in court, Mrs Maria Akpan, the state prosecutor, said Aniekan was caught by the victim’s lesson teacher while committing the offence in broad daylight.
Akpan said he was caught with his penis inserted into the anus of the victim.
Aniekan, who was a neighbor to the parents of the victim, fled the scene and went into hiding but was later arrested by the Police.
A medical report by the police confirmed that the victim was forcefully raped with clinical evaluation showing bruises around his anal region.
The report also showed an impression of sexual assault to rule out sodomy and at risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
Delivering judgment in the case, Justice Bennett Itaumo pronounced life imprisonment on the accused.
“Upon the charge being read to the accused person and upon his plea of guilty and of his hearing the facts as stated by the State Counsel, I enquired of the accused if the facts are true and correct and he admitted that they are.
”I have aligned same with Section 1 (1) (a) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020 and find that facts align with the provision of the law therein. Upon the accused person’s plea therefore, I find him guilty as pleaded.
”The sentence provided for upon conviction of this offence is imprisonment for life,” Justice Itaumo declared.
