Court convicts man, 45, for defiling minor

…another for trafficking

A Magistrate Court sitting in Igarra, Akoko-Edo council area Edo State has sentenced one Joseph Okoye 45, to three years imprisonment for sexually defiling a four-year old girl in the area.

In a related development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the state has secured the conviction of 37-year old Favour Eboigbe for trafficking, contrary to sections 15A, 16 and 19B of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 as amended.

A statement by the Agency’s spokesperson, Nduka Nwanwene said he was jailed 10 years vide charge No FHC/B/24C/2009, by Justice Okeke for trafficking six girls through Burkina Faso for prostitution.

The conviction of Okoye in Igarra, was initiated by a non-governmental organization, BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women (BHI).

In August 2014, Okoye a palm wine seller was said to have lured the minor from her great grand mother’s apartment to his shop, where he committed the act.

Examinations conducted by the Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital, Igarra revealed that the victim was sexually abused as she suffered tearing of the vagina.

In the judgement delivered by Chief Magistrate Prince M. Oare, “I have listened to the plea for leniency by the convict and have also taken into consideration that the convict is a first time offender. However, taking the age of the victim into consideration, the act of the convict will not only be regarded as wicked, but evil. In this regard, an option of fine cannot be considered. The convict is accordingly sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour.

He added that the term of imprisonment is to commence from when he was admitted into prison custody in 2014, since bail was not granted” the magistrate said.

BraveHeart Initiative was involved in the case from the outset, which had established contact with the family of the girl to pledge support in line with BHI’s vision.