A Benin Magistrate’s Court on Thursday sentenced a 21 year-old? man to? three years imprisonment for raping a 10 year-old girl.
The man, Femi Ali, was charged on the one count-charge and convicted of rape under Section 358 of the Criminal Code applicable to Edo State.
Prosecutor Chuks Nnamdi called five witnesses to testify against the accused person, who? pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ali was staying with his elder brother as? a tenant in the house owned by the the girl’s.
The medical report stated that the victim partially lost her hymen, which indicated that she was defied.
Mr Mike Iyere, counsel to the accused person, pleaded for leniency, and said that Ali was like a member of the? girl’s family.
According to him, he has been very good to the family.
Delivering his judgment, the presiding Magistrate, Mr Fred Akhere, said that about 80 per cent of rape cases were committed by persons close to the victims’ family.