A Sexual and gender-based violence court sitting at Awka, Anambra state has sentenced a 34-year-old school teacher to 12 years imprisonment for raping a JSS 1 student aged 11 years.
The defendant, Pascal Ofomata, was charged with Rape and Inflicting Physical Harm punishable under sections 3 (1), and 4 (1) respectively of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, and the offence of Sexual Abuse punishable under section 35 (2) of the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State.
Ofomata, a teacher at St Christopher’s Junior Seminary 3-3 Onitsha, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
Although he towed the part of outright denial in his extra-judicial statement, claiming he never penetrated the victim’s anus, the defendant however admitted in his statement to the police that he sucked his penis and told him to kiss him.
After the trial and evaluation of the investigating police officer and the doctor who examined the victim, the court upheld the case of the prosecuting counsel and convicted the defendant, sentencing him to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The court, in addition, barred him from being employed in any establishment with persons under 18 such as primary, secondary, and even tertiary institutions.
Commending the industry and brilliance of the Senior State Counsel who led the prosecution, Barr Chinelo Akorah of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Justice Peace Otti stated that her final address was compelling and comprehensive.
She, however, noted that it was rare to see cases of sexual offences against boys receive a conclusive end and offenders met with justice.
Reacting to the judgment, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, expressed satisfaction that the State justice system remained one that delivers nothing short of justice.
She described the case as a rare push for justice for the boy-child and awareness that boys can also be victims of sexual violence.