Court sentences Okada rider to life imprisonment for raping nursing mother in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State High court sitting in Uyo, on Tuesday, sentenced one Micheal Effiong Japhet, a commercial motorcycle rider to life imprisonment for raping a married woman and nursing mother in Uyo.

Japhet was convicted and sentenced by Hon. Justice Archibong Archibong, after finding him guilty of rape and stealing punishable under the Criminal Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.

The facts of the matter revealed that the nursing mother, who also sells fruits, boarded the motorcyclist at close of the day’s business from Ikom Iman Junction to her home at Ikot Ofon on February 23, 2015.

Unfortunately, the rider, instead of following the normal route, diverted to a bush track with the claims that he ran out of fuel. 

The convict, it was also gathered, brought a knife, threatening to stab the victim while stealing her purse containing N7000 and a China Nokia phone.

He afterwards, forcefully had a canal knowledge of the woman despite her pleas that she is a nursing mother and married woman. 

The victim, it was further revealed while on her way to her place of business spotted the convict and alerted her husband, who quickly arrived the scene, recovered the wife’s phone and ensured he was handed over to the police.

In his ruling, the judge, Justice Archibong Archibong, sentenced Japhet to life imprisonment for rape and three years’ imprisonment for stealing.