Man, 23, sentenced to life for raping 3-year-old step daughter in A’Ibom

The High Court sitting in Uyo, has sentenced Iniobong Moses, a 23-year-old man, to life imprisonment for raping his 3-year-old step-daughter in Ikot Akpe, Uyo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.

The Court, presided over by Justice Okon Okon, on Wednesday found Moses guilty of rape, contrary to Section 367 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. 2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.

Justice Okon described Moses as “a disgrace to humanity, whose conduct falls abysmally below even the conduct of beasts.”

The Judge held that by his indefensible and despicable act, the convict has shown himself to be callous and devoid of passion.

He further held that the convict does not deserve to walk freely on Nigerian soil and breathe the air of freedom meant for decent members of the society.

The convict, Iniobong Moses, a native of Afaha Udo Eyop in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the State, in his confessional statement, said he was drunk.

Moses said that he defiled the infant by putting his fingers and penis into the victim’s vagina on Nov. 8, 2019, when his wife left for market.

The Court rejected the claim by the accused that he was drunk, saying drunkenness was not an exculpatory defence in Law for the commission of a crime and more so, as it was self inflicted.

The Police Medical Report shows history of abnormal vaginal discharge and wound on the labium of the victim, a case of sexual assault with genital ulcer and genital tract infection.

The Court held that Moses deserves to be put away for a long time from public glare to save innocent children from being further brutalized and ravished by him.