CHUKA UBAH
A 37-year old HIV-positive man, Chiemela Victor Ekeke, will spend the rest of his life in prison custody having been handed life jail term for his neighbour’s 4-year old girl in Umuahia, Abia State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Magistrate Court in Umuahia, Abia State, which convicted Ekeke and sentenced him accordingly having found Jim guilty of defilement.
The incident happened on 7th July, 2023, at Eze Ogbulafor Street in Umuahia, Abia State, where they reside.
Ekeke, who is a labourer and farmer from Ndioru in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state, admitted to being HIV-positive but claimed that his Doctor had “flushed” away his viral load.
While delivering judgment, the Presiding Magistrate, N. Lekwa, stated that the Court in the last sitting found Ekeke guilty of child defilement and sentenced him accordingly.
However, Ekeke was discharged on a count of conspiracy, while a second defendant in the matter was acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
Prior to the judgment, Ekeke admitted to having carnal knowledge of the minor but pleaded for leniency. He reportedly sneaked into the home of the girl’s parents after the mother had gone out to get some commodities.
He took the little girl into one room in the building, where he defiled her and inflicted injuries on her private parts.
A neighbour, who saw him enter the house, promptly identified him, leading to his arrest.
During interrogation by the crowd, the suspect denied defiling the little girl but claimed that “I only carried her in my laps and touched her genitals”.
He further claimed that he came to repay the N3,000 debt he owed someone in the compound and blamed the devil for his evil act.
He was handed over to the Police for investigation and prosecution before the Court, where he was tried and found guilty and then sentenced to life imprisonment under the Criminal law of the State.