An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a commercial motorcycle rider, Micheal Effiong Japhet, to life imprisonment for raping a married woman and nursing mother.
Justice Archibong Archibong delivered the judgment on Tuesday after finding Japhet guilty of rape and stealing under the Criminal Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.
The court heard that the incident happened on February 23, 2015, when the victim, a fruit seller, boarded the convict’s motorcycle from Ikom Iman Junction to her home in Ikot Ofon after the day’s business.
Instead of taking the usual route, Japhet reportedly diverted into a bush path, claiming that his motorcycle had run out of fuel.
The prosecution told the court that the convict then pulled out a knife, threatened to stab the woman, and stole her purse containing N7,000 and a China Nokia phone.
He was also found guilty of forcing himself on the victim despite her repeated pleas that she was a married woman and a nursing mother.
The court further heard that the woman later spotted the motorcyclist while going to her business place and immediately alerted her husband. Her husband rushed to the scene, recovered her stolen phone and ensured the suspect was arrested and handed over to the police.
In his judgment, Justice Archibong sentenced Japhet to life imprisonment for rape and an additional three years’ imprisonment for stealing.
