Court sentences man 6 years for incest with 13-year-old daughter

A high court sitting in Lugbe, Abuja has sentenced a 35-year-old man to six years in jail for incest with the 13-year-old daughter. Friday Elijah, from Cross River, was arrested in July 2015 by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after sexually abusing his daughter. After the girl […]

A high court sitting in Lugbe, Abuja has sentenced a 35-year-old man to six years in jail for incest with the 13-year-old daughter.

Friday Elijah, from Cross River, was arrested in July 2015 by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after sexually abusing his daughter.

After the girl exposed him to his relatives, Elijah smashed her head with a bottle.

On arraignment, Elijah pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges of incest and inflicting physical injury, prompting a trial.

In November, the presiding judge found him guilty but deferred sentencing until December 12, when the court sentenced him to six years in prison for incest and inflicting physical injury on his daughter.

The sentenced was reduced to two years with an option of fine on the charge for injury after his wife and cousin testified to his character and plea for leniency.

The four-year sentence for incest has no option of fine, and both run concurrently.

In a statement, NAPTIP  director-general, Julie Okah-Donli, commended the judgement and praised the judge’s courage.

She said violence against persons was old-fashioned and that those who still get involved in such an act must be dealt with in accordance with the law.