A High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced Wisdom Edem, a 27-year-old final-year Mass Communication student, to 25 years in prison following his conviction for the rape and sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl.
Presiding over the Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Court, Justice Peace Otti found the defendant guilty on three counts, including rape and inflicting physical injury on a minor.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Chinelo Akorah, presented six witnesses, medical reports, and the defendant’s confessional statement. Court records detail how Edem lured the young victim to his residence under the pretense of filming a comedy skit. Upon arrival, he sent the victim’s younger sister away before trapping and assaulting the child inside his room. A medical examiner later confirmed the child sustained injuries during the assault.
In his defense, Edem denied the charges and claimed the victim seduced him. However, Justice Otti rejected the claim, emphasizing that a minor cannot legally give consent under the law and describing the act as premeditated.
Edem, who was out on bail during the trial, failed to appear in court for the delivery of the judgment. Consequently, Justice Otti issued a bench warrant for his arrest, declaring him wanted and directing law enforcement to circulate his photograph. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Edem to pay ₦200,000 in compensation to the victim for the physical injuries inflicted.
