Rapist, Ezeji, Sentence To 7yrs Imprisonment Over Child Defilement

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 40-year-old man, Ifeanyi Ezeji, to seven years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for defiling his 12-year-old house help.

Ezeji was convicted on one count bordering on unlawful sexual abuse.

He was alleged to have defiled the victim at his house on Eastern Bypass, Port Harcourt, on February 11, 2019.

In her judgement, the Chief Magistrate, Felicitas Amanze, said the prosecution had been able to proved its case, adding that the defence team was unable to contradict the evidence before the court.

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The chief magistrate said Ezeji’s denial of his statement was an afterthought.

She ruled that the convict was guilty of the offence punishable under Section 32 of the Child Rights Act, while frowning on the attempts by the victim’s family and Ezeji to settle out of court.

She said it was an act of wickedness for the man to lie to the court that the victim, who was a minor, had interest in him before he had carnal knowledge of her.

The chief magistrate further read that the evidence tendered before the court, including the victim’s medical report, the confessional statement made by the convict to the police and the N150,000 offered to the victim’s parent as settlement, were proof that the defendant committed the crime.