Etim Effiong
Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, has sentenced a 40-year-old man, Joshua Chukwu, to seven years in prison following his conviction for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.
Justice Okon Okon, in his judgement on Monday found the accused guilty of sexually exploiting the SS1 student, an offence punishable under the Child’s Rights Law of Akwa Ibom.
The convict, Chukwu, was tried on two counts of luring the girl who was hawking oranges into his house at 10, Etuk Street, Uyo; also by having carnage knowledge of her on February 2, 2018.
In her statement, the girl told the court that Chukwu had bought oranges worth N130 and refused to pay her.
According to her, Chukwu asked her to accompany him to his house for the money, only for him to grab her upon reaching his house and have an unlawful carnal knowledge of her from about 8 pm in the evening till midnight.
She stated that her pleas to Chukwu to let her go after the sex proved abortive as he taunted her that no one would come to her rescue even if she cried on top of her voice.
The minor said she managed to escape when she told the convict that she wanted to make use of the toilet, and she alerted youths, who informed the police.
Chukwu is to be remanded in Uyo Correctional Centre without an option of fine.