Victim Breaks Silence After Court Ruling on Sexual Assault Case Ends in 16-Year Sentence
- An Anambra High Court has sentenced a man to 16 years imprisonment over a sexual assault and unlawful detention
- Court proceedings detailed allegations, having found the accused abducted and assaulted the victim, after forcing entry into her residence
- The victim, who rejected the accused’s claims of a relationship, reaffirmed her account after the court ruling outcome
After the court ruling that led to a 16-year sentence for Onyedika Okafor, the victim in the case has spoken out, rejecting his claims and sharing her account of what happened.
Legit.ng reports that the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit in Anambra state secured a major conviction in the case between the state and 30-year-old Okafor over r@pe and unlawful detention.
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When the matter came up on Tuesday, April 28, at the High Court in Awka, the state capital, the prosecution team led by Barr Chikodili Enemo, told the court that the accused armed himself with a gun and stormed the residence of the victim at Ezi-Ifite village, Awka, where she lived with her aunt.
According to Enemo, the accused demanded that the victim come out of her house, and that despite attempts by neighbours to intervene and save the victim, they were unable to do so, as the accused person brandished a gun.
The prosecution said he subsequently abducted the victim and took her to an unfinished building, where he assaulted her. When the victim was later released, her aunt reported the incident to the police, which led to the arrest of the suspect.
Four witnesses, the prosecution said, were called subsequently, including the victim, her aunt, the investigating police officer, and a medical doctor who conducted an examination and confirmed physical trauma consistent with sexual assault.
When the accused person was cross-examined by the court, he claimed that the victim was his girlfriend, and insisted that he had committed no offence in having sexual ìntèrcòùrsè with her.
The defence’s case was discredited under cross-examination by the prosecuting counsel.
In her judgment, Honourable Justice Peace Otti found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment for r@pe and an additional 2 years for unlawful imprisonment.
The court also ordered that the convict be registered as a sexual offender in the state.
Prosecution speaks on weight of offence
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng correspondent after the court session, leader of the prosecution team, Chikodili Enemo, noted that r@pe is a serious criminal offence in Nigeria, punishable under several laws, with penalties ranging from 12 years to life imprisonment.
She said, "The Violence Against Persons (VAPP) Act, 2015, provides a comprehensive definition, encompassing forced, non-consensual pénétration of the v@gina, @nus, or mouth, with penalties including life imprisonment or a minimum of 12 years without a fine."
"Violence Against Persons (VAPP) (Prohibition) Act 2015, sets a minimum 12-year sentence for adults, and a minimum 20-year sentence for gang r@pe. It also mandates a public register for convicted sèx offenders."
"Criminal Code Act (Section 357-358) defines r@pe as unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl without consent, punishable by life imprisonment. Penal Code treats r@pe as a severe offence, with penalties including imprisonment (often life) and potential whipping."
"R@pe is a serious crime, and in Nigeria, the seriousness of the crime is acknowledged as it carries a life sentence."
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"On the other hand, unlawful imprisonment (also known as false imprisonment or unlawful detention) is punishable under Nigerian law. It is both a crime and a tort, violating fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution."
"The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guarantees the right to personal liberty in Section 35. It mandates that anyone arrested or detained must be brought to court within 24 to 48 hours (depending on the distance to a court)."
"Again, Criminal Code Sections 226 and 364 (among others) criminalise unlawful detention and kidnapping. Similarly, Penal Code provisions exist that punish anyone who keeps a person in wrongful confinement."
She regretted, however, that while these laws are in place, the prevalence of r@pe is high, and convictions could be rare due to social and systemic issues.
Victim, family open up on incident
Also, in an interview with Legit.ng, the victim said that the convicted person was never her boyfriend.
The victim, who preferred to speak under anonymity, said,
"He was never my boyfriend as he claimed. He asked me several times to be his girlfriend, but I refused. But he told me that one day, I must agree. I think that was what he did."
Speaking equally with Legit.ng, the victim's aunt, who also does not want her name mentioned, thanked the court for convicting the offender.
She said that many young men have been going about committing all forms of crimes in Awka, without any meaningful checks. The woman also expressed optimism that maximum sentencing such as this will serve as a deterrent to those who indulge in such behaviour.
UNILAG student testifies in sexual assault case
Previously, Legit.ng reported that a 20-year-old University of Lagos student told a Lagos High Court how a senior lecturer allegedly sexually assaulted her inside his office at the Akoka campus after an examination.
She testified that the incident occurred after being invited to the lecturer’s underground office, where she alleged she was attacked after other students had left and the door was closed.
Source: Legit.ng
