Student Sentenced to 35 Years for Raping 10-Year-Old

Wisdom Edem, a 27-year-old final-year Mass Communication student, was convicted and sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison by the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State. The court, presided over by Justice Peace Otti, found Edem guilty on three counts: rape, sexual abuse, and inflicting injury on a 10-year-old girl, under Charge No.

A/3C/2024. The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Chinelo Akorah, presented six witnesses and evidence, including Edem's confessional statement and a medical report confirming the victim's injuries.

The victim testified that Edem deceived her into coming to his house for a comedy skit, where he locked her in a room and raped her. The court dismissed Edem's defense, which claimed the victim seduced him, emphasizing that a child cannot give consent.

The judge described the act as premeditated and noted that Edem was not compensating the victim for the skit. Edem was absent during the judgment delivery.