A Delta state Magistrate Court sitting in Ibussa has
sentenced a 65 year-old trader, Raphael Azubuike to 12 months imprisonment for
indecent assault of a 12 year-old girl.
The Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Onyekwe Nnamdi
of Ibusa Magisterial District found the accused guilty of the one count charge
of unlawful and indecent assault of the girl (name withheld), primary 5 pupil
of Umueze Primary School, Ibusa, Delta state.
The offence which was committed on the 28 January 2013, is
punishable under Section 360 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C21 Volume 1, Laws of
Delta State 2006.
The convict popularly known as AZ who was on bail at the
time the court delivered its judgment, operates a provision store at Ibusa
where he was reported to have carried the victim on his leg and inserted his
finger inside her private part when the girl visited his provision store to buy
an item for her father.
Luck however ran out on the randy amputee when he was caught
in the act by his landlord’s wife who had entered the shop unnoticed, and
thereafter raised an alarm.
“This is making three times that AZ has been using me in
that same store. Anytime he sees me, he would ask me to sit on his laps and
starts inserting his fingers on my private part. He will later warn me not to
tell anybody” the victim told the Court.
Delivering his judgment, the Chief Magistrate condemned in
strong terms the reprehensible behavior of the accused, noting that there was
overwhelming evidence from the account of the victim and 4 other witnesses
called by prosecution that the accused committed the offence as charged, though
he denied the charge during trial, alleging a set up by his landlord and his
wife.
He however gave the convict an option of fine of N50, 000, a
condition the convict could not perfect and was taken to prison custody by
prison officials.
Pm News
No comments:
Post a Comment