An Oredo Magistrate Court in Benin yesterday sentenced a 47-year-old man, Godwin Allu, to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for having sex with his daughter.
The accused who pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of having unlawful carnal knowledge of his 12-year-old daughter, Blessing, was said to have committed an offense punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. II of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo State.
Prosecuting counsel, Miss. Loretta Asaka, told the court that on November 20, 2012, one Mrs. Verlaine Enemaku reported the case at the charge room of the Central Juvenile Welfare Centre of the Nigeria Police in Benin, after being told by the Headmistress of Obaseki Primary School, Benin, that blood stains were discovered on the victim’s uniform.
The complainant said upon interrogation, the victim told the head mistress that her father had sex with her three times on different occasions. It was gathered that the victim, who was admitted and treated at the Benin Central Hospital was later discharged and taken to an orphanage.
Delivering judgment in the case, Chief Magistrate Peter Asemota, who expressed gladness that the accused voluntarily pleaded guilty to the crime, pronounced him guilty as charged.
Asemota, who observed that cases of sexual offenses were on the increase in her jurisdiction, said it was necessary for the court to join other stakeholders in taking a serious stand against the vice.
“For this reason, the convict must be put out of circulation for sometime so that he would not be able to continue with his bestial activities,” the magistrate said.
The court thereafter sentenced the accused to seven years imprisonment with hard labour and no option of fine.
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