By Ikeugonna Eleke
A middle-aged man, Kenneth Nwangwu, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for defiling his biological 9-year old daughter and only child.
The judgement was delivered by The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting at Awka High Court.
Nwangwu was dragged to court by the Anambra State Government and a three-count charge brought against the defendant following compelling evidence proving him guilty as charged.
He was consequently sentenced to seven years imprisonment on count one of the charges – having sexual intercourse with a nine-year old child, offence punishable under Section 34 of the Child Rights Law of Anambra State of Nigeria 2004.
The court also sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment on count two for inflicting physical injuries on the girl and one year imprisonment on count three, which is causing emotional and psychological abuse on the victim.
The two offences are punishable under Sections 4 and 16 of the Violence against Persons, Prohibition and Protection, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017.
The defendant who initially denied defiling the girl, later admitted to the crime and pleaded for leniency and his defence counsel also pleaded for the mercy of the court on the premise that the defendant was a first time offender and had the victim as his only child, among others.
The court ordered that the seven, two- and one-year prison terms should run concurrently, and that the victim should still remain in the care of the Anambra State Government.
