The Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting at the High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced a 27-year-old final-year Mass Communication student, Wisdom Edem, to 25 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl.
Edem was convicted on three counts bordering on rape, sexual abuse and causing physical injury to the minor.
Justice Peace Otti delivered the judgment on Wednesday in a case marked A/3C/2024.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Chinelo Akorah, called six witnesses and presented several pieces of evidence, including the defendant’s confessional statement and the victim’s medical report.
According to the court record, the victim told the court that Edem had deceived her into visiting his residence under the pretext of participating in a comedy skit.
She reportedly went to the defendant’s house accompanied by her younger sister. Upon their arrival, Edem allegedly sent the younger sister away to get clothes for the victim before taking the girl into a room.
The court heard that the defendant subsequently assaulted the child, resulting in injuries that were later confirmed by a medical doctor who examined her on the same day.
The defendant denied the allegations during his defence and attempted to argue that the victim had initiated the sexual encounter and had told him she was 14 years old.
However, Justice Otti rejected the defence, stressing that a child of the victim’s age could not legally consent to sexual activity.
The court also found that the victim’s account was supported by other evidence presented by the prosecution, including the defendant’s confessional statement and testimonies from witnesses involved in the investigation and arrest.
Justice Otti consequently held that the offence was deliberate and planned, and found Edem guilty on the relevant counts.
The defendant, who had been granted bail during the trial, was reportedly absent from court when judgment was delivered.
Following his absence, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ordered that he be declared wanted. His photographs were also ordered to be circulated to the police and through other appropriate channels to facilitate his arrest.
In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, the court ordered Edem to pay ₦200,000 in compensation to the victim for the injuries sustained.
The judgment underscores the position of Nigerian law that children cannot legally consent to sexual activity and that adults who sexually abuse minors can face severe criminal sanctions.
