Mr. Michael Okoi, a security personnel has gotten a ‘life sentence judgement’ for
allegedly having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 17yr-old girl hawking “Okpa” at a Filling Station along Onitsha – Asaba Expressway, Upper Iweka.
Angel Network News (ANN) gathered that
Mr. Okoi, aged 23, on 11th May 2024 raped the 17 old, an offence contrary to Section 3(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017.
Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje, described as landmark the ‘life sentence judgement’, noting that the judgement is one that sends a signal that the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration has zero tolerance for all forms of gender-based violence in the state.
For taking advantage of the vulnerability of the “young naïve girl who was on a survival quest in this harsh economy to ravage her womanhood”, the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at Awka and presided over by Justice Peace Otti, sentenced the perpetrator, Michael, to life imprisonment on count 1, and fined him two hundred thousand naira each on counts 2 and 3.
Delivering judgement in the 4-count charge brought against the defendant; which includes compelling the victim by threat to engage in sexual conduct with him to the detriment of her psychological well-being, as well as willfully and unlawfully inflicting injury on her, the court, against the Defense Counsel’s argument, ruled that the 17yr-old girl is incapable of giving sexual consent under Section 34 of the Child Right Laws of Anambra State, 2004, and that it was immaterial that the perpetrator thought the victim was above the age of a child.
When asked to say why he should be given a lesser sentence after the court found him guilty as charged, Michael insisted he didn’t commit the offense, and that his confessional statements at different police stations were made under duress.
Also reacting to the judgement, the Anambra State Cordinator of Child Protection Network, CPN, Mrs Eucharia Anaekwe, appreciated the state government for providing enabling environment for the EU and International IDEA’s project to thrive, saying that their technical support through justice reforms, training and case pick ups were helpful in securing judgement in the case.
Contributing, the Anambra State Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Nigeria, Barrister Amara Muojeke, said the life sentence judgement is spectacular and ensures deterrence.
