A Bayelsa State High Court has sentenced 41-year-old Baridapsi Needam to 14 years imprisonment for raping and impregnating his daughter.

The case, heard in Yenagoa, concluded with Justice D.E Adokeme finding Needam guilty of violating the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Bayelsa State, 2021.

State Prosecuting Counsel, Pere Amanda Egbuson, revealed the horrifying details: “Investigations revealed that the accused, Needam began defiling his daughter when she was seven years old by inserting his fingers into her vagina and started having sex with her in 2020 until she got pregnant in 2022.”

The verdict was supported by DNA evidence, which Justice Adokeme cited in his ruling: “The prosecution led credible evidence and made reference to the DNA result which revealed a 99.99 per cent positive report that the convict is the father of the child.”

Egbuson commented on the significance of the verdict: “The judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who engage in unimaginable acts, noting that a strong message has been sent that the court will not tolerate such heinous acts.”

The founder of Do Foundation, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, expressed satisfaction with the outcome: “The state government through the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Bayelsa State Gender Response Initiative Team has done well by keeping the victim safe and the innocent baby safe too. This should sound like a warning to all paedophiles to stay clear of our children.”

The case came to light when concerned neighbors noticed the victim’s pregnancy and alerted authorities. Investigations revealed that Needam, a widower from Rivers State, had been forcing his daughter to share his bed while her younger brothers slept on the floor.

The victim, who was in JSS III at the time, gave birth to a baby girl during the trial.