An Oredo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 sentenced one Nosa Edebiri, 50, to nine years imprisonment for defiling an-11-year-old minor at his home close to the victim’s house at Aghimen Street, off Saint Saviour, in Benin, Edo State, Vanguard reports.
Edebiri pleaded guilty to a one-count of rape before the Magistrate, Mrs Caroliine Oghuma, consequently handed him the sentence.
Oghuma said, “You do not deserve any mercy even though it is the first time you are appearing in court.
“I consider the offence condemnable since you took advantage of the vulnerable minor
“I, hereby, sentence you to nine years imprisonment without option of fine, to serve as deterrent to others.”
The defendant according to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Adebiyi, was nabbed after the victim and her parents reported the incident same day to the police on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.
Adebiyi said “On the faithful day, the convict went to buy fish worth N250 at No 4, Aghimen Street, off Saint Saviour, Benin where the minor was assisting her mother to sell fish.
“After the convict has taken the fish, he asked the minor to follow him home to collect the money of the fish.
“When minor got to his room, he locked her up, took advantage of her and forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.’’
It was gathered that the convict even threatened to kill the victim if she ever said a word of the incident to anyone.
He continued, “Unfortunately, the minor’s parent observed that she was not comfortable as she was feeling pains in her abdomen, it was then that she told her parents what happened to her.
“Immediately, the minor parent came to the police station to report, she was examined and test was carried out on the same day at Central Hospital where it was confirmed that the minor lost her virginity.’’
The offence breached the dictates of Section 218 of the Criminal Code.
