The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Nyanya has sentenced a 29-year-old pastor, Stephen Kalu, to life imprisonment for raping a 17-year-old girl.
Justice Peter Kekemeke held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Kalu of the Adoration Ministry, Karshi, Abuja, was arraigned on two counts bordering on rape.
He was charged with having sexual intercourse with the girl at his residence without her consent, thereby contravening Section 31 (1) of the Child’s Right Act and punishable under Section 31 (2) of the same Act.
In his judgment, Justice Kekemeke said the convict admitted to sleeping with the girl several times, which resulted in a pregnancy and the birth of a girl child.
The court held that although Kalu promised to marry the victim, an offence was committed and the law must take its course.
The judge said, “Our society, especially this division of the court, has seen several cases of rape. It is a pathetic situation; the system must be expunged of rapists; our children need protection from our courts.
“The law is already there; the same defendant committed a similar offence of rape while on bail during the period of this case. He is a danger to our children; the defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”
Copyright PUNCH.
