In a major breakthrough in its campaign against sexual and gender-based violence, the Abia State Government has secured the conviction of two child sex offenders, who were sentenced to 30 and 10 years’ imprisonment respectively, for separate cases of defilement.
One of the offenders, a 35-year-old man from Akwa Ibom State, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by a Family Court sitting at the High Court in Umuahia, for defiling a five-year-old girl while another 32-year-old man received a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of defiling a 13-year-old girl.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this at Government House Umuahia, on Monday while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu said the convictions underscore the present administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards sexual offences and serve as a warning that perpetrators would not be spared.
“Two sexual assault cases were successfully concluded recently resulting in convictions and prison sentences of 30 and 10 years respectively.
“These are landmark convictions that indicate that Abia State Government has zero tolerance for sexual assault on women folk”, the commissioner said.
He further disclosed that the convictions were among landmark outcomes recorded by the state’s Nchedo Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), located at the General Hospital, Aba.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the centre had continued to provide coordinated medical, psychosocial and referral services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
The Commissioner also revealed that the facility is currently managing two fresh cases involving a 60-year-old woman allegedly subjected to gang rape and a five-year-old child who survived defilement.
He added that the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection has continued to implement the state’s social protection framework by identifying and supporting vulnerable residents that require urgent medical and humanitarian assistance.
Prince Kanu disclosed that the ministry recently visited the family of the late Wendy Achumba, an indigent from Obingwa Local Government Area who was allegedly raped and murdered in Imo State.
According to him, government officials attended her burial in solidarity with the bereaved family, provided financial support and pledged to pursue justice in the case.
Providing further details of the convictions, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Felix, said one of the offenders, a 35-year-old man, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for defiling a five-year-old girl.
Mrs Felix said the suspect had fled to Nasarawa State after the incident but was tracked down and returned to Abia by the police to face prosecution.
She further disclosed that another 32-year-old man received a 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of defiling a 13-year-old girl by the Family Court sitting at the High Court in Umuahia.
She described the recent conviction process as one of the fastest recorded within Nigeria’s network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres, adding that: “We’ve not had a case called up on the first day in court for the hearing, and that same sentence happened.
“This is the fastest that has ever happened in the country. We have a network of sexual assault referral centers in Nigeria, and this is the fastest that has ever happened, that conviction was given within 24 hours.
“The hearing was called up on the 9th of July, last week Thursday, and on that same 9th of July he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment”, Mrs Felix said.
Felix attributed the development to collaboration among the Ministries of Health, Justice, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as the Nigeria Police Force.
She also commended the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, for the command’s support in the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence cases.
The commissioner noted that the Otti led administration remains committed to protecting vulnerable residents and warned sternly that sexual offenders would faced the full weight of the law.
“Under this administration, you know, the government is very serious and has zero tolerance for any form of sexual and gender-based abuse for vulnerable citizens.
“Vulnerable citizens are receiving the utmost care, protection from this administration. So I’d like to use this opportunity to also send a warning or a message to sexual offenders.
“We have a sex offenders register at the Ministry of Justice for naming and shaming of sexual offenders. Once somebody is convicted, their names are put there. This register serves as a deterrent for those who may be potential offenders in the future”, Mrs Felix said.
