The Upper Area Court I, sitting in Ganye, Adamawa State, has convicted and sentenced a man, Jediel Sylvester, to 30 years’ imprisonment for having sexual relations with his daughter and getting her pregnant.
The court, presided over by Hon. Kabiru Musa, sentenced the defendant to 15 years’ imprisonment with an option of a N500,000 fine for the offence of incest.
For the offence of criminal intimidation, the court sentenced Sylvester to 10 years’ imprisonment with an option of a N250,000 fine, whilst for the offence of assault, the court sentenced the defendant to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The court, explaining that the sentences shall run consecutively, further pronounced that the defendant has the constitutional right of appeal against the judgment to the High Court of Adamawa State within the next 30 days.
The judge said the most disturbing part of the case was the testimony of the victim that the defendant habitually intimidated and forced her into sexual intercourse whenever he desired.
“Having carefully considered the statement of complaint, the unequivocal plea of guilty entered by the defendant, the oral testimony of the victim in corroboration thereof, and the entire record before the court, I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved the offences charged beyond reasonable doubt as required by law,” the judge said.
“A plea of guilty, once voluntarily made and corroborated where necessary, constitutes the strongest evidence against an accused person. In the instant case, there exists not only the defendant’s confession in open court but also credible testimony from the victim herself, leaving no room for doubt as to the defendant’s criminal responsibility,” Kabiru stated.
He declared that the case represents one of the gravest forms of betrayal known to both law and humanity, saying parenthood is a sacred trust imposed by nature.
“Accordingly, I find the defendant, Jediel Sylvester, guilty and he is hereby convicted for the offences of Incest, Criminal Intimidation and Assault contrary to Sections 367, 382 and 242 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018,” the judge declared.
The defendant, Jediel Sylvester, was brought before the court on a criminal complaint alleging the offences of incest, criminal intimidation, and assault.
The particulars of the complaint disclosed that the defendant, who is the biological father of the victim, repeatedly subjected his own daughter to sexual abuse.
The first complainant in the case, Mohammed Audi, who is an uncle of the girl, had earlier told the court that after discovering the pregnancy, the defendant attempted to persuade his daughter to falsely accuse another person, and later sought to procure an abortion to terminate the pregnancy, both of which proposals the daughter rejected.
When the complaint was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty, stating that he committed the odd act of replacing paternal love with predatory lust.
