An individual from Edo has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for committing rape and assault.
The Chief Magistrate (Special Grade) of the Magistrates’ Court in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nosa Musoe, has handed a 14-year prison sentence without the option of a fine to Dele Eric. This verdict comes after Eric was found guilty of rape, assault, and conspiracy, as outlined in the Edo State Criminal Code Law.
The crime, committed in Ikpeshi, involved Eric and three others, two of whom are still at large. The victim suffered machete wounds when resisting the assault, and Eric was specifically accused of indecent acts, including masturbating and ejaculating on the face and mouth of the victim, who is a person living with a disability. Eric faced charge no MIG/23/2020 and was prosecuted by Inspector Obaze Samuel of the Igarra Area Command of the Nigerian Police, leading to his sentencing last Friday.
One of the suspects is reported to be mentally unstable and therefore deemed unfit to stand trial. BraveHeart Initiative, which provided support for the case, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Priscilla Usiobaifo, the Executive Director of BraveHeart Initiative, conveyed determination to continue facilitating justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.
She acknowledged funding support from Open Society Foundations-Africa (OSIWA-OSF) and the MacArthur Foundation. Despite challenges posed by COVID-19 protocols in Edo State, the BraveHeart Initiative team persevered, conducting 30 court sittings at the Magistrate Court in Igarra. Usiobaifo praised the dedication of the BraveHeart Initiative’s Sexual and Gender-Based Violence case workers for their resilience and support to survivors, particularly in rural communities. BraveHeart Initiative for Youth and Women (BHI) is a youth-led, feminist non-governmental organization that focuses on promoting young people’s sexual reproductive health and advancing women’s rights in Nigeria.
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