The Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Baridapsi Needam, to 14 years imprisonment for raping and impregnating his daughter.
The victim who hails from Ogani Wily Kaira Community in Ogoni, Rivers State, however, gave birth to a baby girl in the pendency of the trial.
The accused, Mr Needam, in the suit numbered YHC/14C/2022 was charged with the offence of rape contrary to Section 1(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Bayelsa State, 2021.
The state prosecuting counsel and deputy director in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice, Pere Amanda Egbuson, had told the court that investigations revealed that the accused, Mr Needam began fingering his daughter when she was seven years old and started having sex with her in 2020 until she got pregnant in 2022.
While delivering the judgement, the presiding judge, Justice D.E Adokeme stated that the prosecution led credible evidence and made reference to the DNA result which revealed 99.99 per cent positive report that the convict is the father of the child.
The court ruled that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Needam committed the offence of rape and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment.
Speaking after the judgement, the lead prosecuting counsel, Egbuson, noted that the judgement will serve as a deterrent to others who engage in such unimaginable act, noting that a strong message has been sent that the court will not tolerate such heinous acts.
