The Digest:
A 51-year-old commercial driver and mechanic, Okon Jimmy Ama, has been sentenced to a combined 24 years imprisonment for repeatedly raping and assaulting his two biological daughters, aged 13 and 16, in Akwa Ibom State. The State High Court in Uyo presided over by Justice Winifred Effiong convicted Ama after about 10 years of prosecution. Evidence revealed the incidents occurred in 2015, with Ama molesting his daughters multiple times. He also used a car fan belt to beat one daughter and disposed of the evidence in a pit toilet. Justice Effiong sentenced him to seven years for incest, three years for assault occasioning bodily harm, and 14 years for rape, all sentences to run concurrently. Prosecuting Counsel Ofonime Idio described the judgement as "a strong statement against sexual abuse and a victory for justice in the State."
Key Points:
- The 24-year sentence delivers justice after a decade-long legal battle.
- It sends a strong deterrent message against sexual abuse of minors.
- The victims gain closure, while the perpetrator faces consequences.
- This signals the judiciary's commitment to punishing sexual offenders.
- The timing, with concurrent sentences, ensures significant prison time.
Sources: Leadership, Akwa Ibom State High Court
