A commercial motorcycle operator has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a married woman and nursing mother in Uyo Local Government Area.
Michael Effiong Japhet was convicted and sentenced by Akwa Ibom State High Court, on Tuesday, July 7, having been found guilty of rape and stealing punishable under the Criminal Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.
The incident occurred on February 23, 2015, after the victim, a fruit seller at the popular Ikot Oku Ikono Junction in Uyo Local Government Area, hired the motorcyclist to take her home to Ikot Ofon in Ikono, at the close of the day’s business.
Rather than following the known route, the convict reportedly diverted to Ikot Nsung in Ikono, drove into a bush path and falsely claimed that his motorcycle had run out of Premium Motor Spirit.
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He forcefully collected the victim’s purse containing N7,000 and a China Nokia phone before threatening her with a knife and demanding that she undress.
Despite her pleas that she was married and a nursing mother, the convict raped her at knifepoint before fleeing with his motorcycle.
The following morning, while on her way to Ikot Oku Ikono Junction to resume her fruit business, the victim spotted the convict and alerted her husband.
The suspect was immediately arrested and the victim’s phone was recovered from him.
In a judgment that lasted about one hour, Justice Archibong Archibong sentenced Japhet to life imprisonment for rape and three years’ imprisonment for stealing.
The judgment brings to an end 11 years of diligent prosecution by Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice.
Court Jails Man 21 years for rape
In another development, a 46-year-old married man with five children was convicted and sentenced 21 years of imprisonment for raping a 14-year-old girl by the High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State recently.
The defendant, Mr Ime Edet Akpan, was said to have maintained a relationship with a woman who lived in the same compound as the survivor’s mother and frequently visited her.
The incident occurred on 6th April, 2022, at Nung Udoe in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The Prosecution said on the day of the incident, the survivor’s mother and the Defendant’s concubine left the house to attend a church prayer meeting, leaving the 14-year-old survivor at home to carry out household chores.
After completing the chores assigned to her, she was said to have returned to her apartment and proceeded towards the outdoor bathroom to take her bath.
As she walked through the backyard, the Defendant emerged from his concubine’s room, grabbed her, and, despite her resistance, overpowered and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.
The victim became pregnant, and by July 2022, the pregnancy was visible.
The Defendant did not deny responsibility for the offence. Instead, he persistently pressured the victim’s mother to terminate the pregnancy through abortion in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The victim’s mother courageously rejected the demand and refused to compromise justice, the prosecution narrated.
The matter was reported to the Family Empowerment and Youth Re-Orientation Path Initiative (FEYReP) under Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Upon receiving the complaint, FEYReP acted swiftly by conducting a preliminary investigation, facilitating the arrest of the suspect, and ensuring that the survivor received immediate medical examination, psychosocial support, and other necessary interventions.
Following a comprehensive investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, the State under Charge No: HU/154C/2023, prosecuted the case after establishing sufficient evidence.
Consequently, the matter was charged before the High Court for the offence of rape through the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice, which assigned Mfonobong Udoinyang, Esq., Akaninyene Akpan, Esq., and U. Albert Uko, Esq., to prosecute the case on behalf of the State.
Delivering judgment, Hon. Justice Nsemeke Daniel of Akwa Ibom High Court, Uyo, said “As I tried to reminisce about the impropriety of the Defendant’s conduct, I feel constrained to express my worry about the safety of children in our clime with the marauding presence of the likes of the defendant.
‘‘He succeeded to frustrate PW1, who was a secondary school student at the time… but thank God for the wife of our former Governor, Martha Udom Emmanuel, who founded FEYReP and empowered the organisation to intervene in this type of case when the victims are abandoned.”
Having found him guilty, the Judge sentenced the defendant to 21 years’ imprisonment without option of fine.
FEYReP remains committed to ensuring that survivors of Gender-Based Violence receive comprehensive support, protection, and access to justice.
This case stands as a testament that when survivors are believed, protected, and supported, justice can prevail and lives can be transformed.
Reported by Harrison Essien is an Uyo-based Journalist
