A Rivers State Family Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 75-year-old man, Promise Chukwumatti, to 10 years in prison for defiling an 11-year-old girl.
Justice Rita Oguaguo delivered the verdict on Wednesday.
The court also ordered the convict to pay N1 million in compensation to the victim’s family. He is to be entered into the Rivers State register of convicted sex offenders.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge of defilement.
The judge said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt with oral testimony, a confessional statement, and other evidence presented in court.
The court said that the convict repeatedly lured the victim with small sums of money into his apartment, where he had unlawful sexual intercourse with her on several occasions.
Justice Oguaguo agreed with the submissions of the prosecuting counsel, Precious Ordu of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, holding that the evidence presented before the court clearly established the convict’s guilt.
He acknowledged the convict’s plea for leniency but stated that defilement is an offence punishable by life imprisonment under the law. Nonetheless, the court exercised judicial discretion and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment, having considered the welfare of his children, who were reportedly without their mother.
Justice Oguaguo, who described the convict as a shame if fatherhood, further issued a restraining order prohibiting convict and members of his family from approaching, contacting or harassing the victim and her family.
