Anambra Court Jails Final Year Student 35 Years for Defiling Minor

A devastating case of child abuse has led to the conviction and sentencing of a 27-year-old final year Mass Communication student, Wisdom Edem, to 35 years imprisonment. The Children, S3xual and Gender-based Violence Court, sitting at the High Court of Awka, Anambra State, found Edem guilty on a three-count charge of r@pe, s@xual abuse, and inflicting injury on a 10-year-old girl. The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Chinelo Akorah, presented six witnesses and tendered compelling documents, including Edem's confessional statement and the medical report. According to the victim, she was deceived into visiting Edem's house for a 'comedy skit' and was subsequently defiled. Edem, in his defence, claimed the victim seduced him, stating that she removed his clothes and inserted his p3nis into her v@gina. However, the court dismissed this claim, citing the presence of blood as proof that the victim was a virgin. The judge held that a child is not capable of giving consent under the law and described the act as premeditated and carefully planned. Edem was sentenced to 25 years for r@pe, five years for s@xual abuse, and five years for inflicting injury. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of N200,000 as compensation to the victim and directed his university not to issue him a certificate until he completes his prison term.