Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Defiling Nine-Year-Old Daughter

The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting in the High Court, Awka, Anambra State, on Monday sentenced a middle-aged man, Kenneth Nwangu to 10 years imprisonment for defiling his nine-year-old daughter and only child.

The defendant was charged in a three-count brought by the state government following compelling evidence proving him guilty as charged.

He was consequently sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one – having sexual intercourse with a nine-year-old, an offence punishable under Section 34 of the Child Rights Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2004.

The court also sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment on count two – inflicting physical injuries on his victim and one year imprisonment on count three – causing emotional and psychological abuse on the victim.

The two offences are punishable under Sections 4 and 16 of the Violence Against Persons, Prohibition and Protection Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017.

The court in its ruling, relied on evidence presented by prosecution witnesses, including the victim, and also took cognizance of evidence that the defendant had been taking care of the victim from about one year after the mother left them, among others.

While asked to explain why he was raping his child and should not be given the maximum sentence of life imprisonment, the defendant initially denied defiling his child, claiming it was a woman he usually left the child with following the wife’s separation that got him arrested by the police over the allegation.

He, however, later admitted to the crime and pleaded for leniency, and his defence counsel also pleaded for mercy of the court, on the premise that the defendant was a first-time offender and had the victim as his only child, among others.

The court ordered that the seven, two- and one-year prison terms should run concurrently and that the victim should remain in the care of the Anambra State Government.