Metro

BAYELSA: Father Jailed For Raping, Impregnating 14-year-old Daughter

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2024

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has jailed a 41-year-old man, Baridapsi Needam, to 17 years in jail for raping and impregnating his daughter.

The PUNCH gathered that the victim gave birth to a baby girl while the trial was pending.

Needam in the suit numbered YHC/14C/2022, was charged with rape contrary to Section 1(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Bayelsa State, 2021.

The State Prosecuting Counsel and Deputy Director in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice, Pere Amanda Egbuson, told the court that investigations revealed that the accused began defiling his daughter when she was seven.

Egbuson said the accused started by inserting his fingers into the vagina of the victim until he began having sex with her in 2020 before she got pregnant in 2022.

The presiding judge, D.E Adokeme, in delivering the judgement said the prosecution led credible evidence and made reference to the DNA result which revealed a 99.99 per cent positive report that the convict is the father of the child.

Her words: “The prosecution has led credible evidence and made reference to the DNA result which revealed 99.99 per cent report that Needam is the father of the child”.

The court ruled that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence of rape and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment.

Speaking after the judgement, Egbuson noted that the judgement will serve as a deterrent to others who engage in such unimaginable acts stressing that a strong message has been sent that the court will not tolerate such heinous acts.

Egbuson said, “The judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who engage in such unimaginable acts. A strong message has been sent that the court will not tolerate such heinous acts”.

She however thanked the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo for his immense support in ensuring that the DNA analysis was carried out to aid the prosecution in pursuit of justice in the case.

Also commenting on the development, a known advocate against violence against women and founder of Do Foundation, Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, said the CSOs in the state are excited with the judgement of the court.

According to her, “The State Government through Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women, Children Affairs and Social Development and the Bayelsa State Gender Response Initiative Team have done well by keeping the victim safe and the innocent baby safe too. This should sound like a warning to all paedophiles to steer clear of our children”.

Needman, who hails from Ogani Wily Kaira Community in Ogoni in Rivers State, was reported to the police by members of the state gender advocacy group, Gender Response Initiative Team in 2022 when a concerned neighbour noticed that the victim was five months pregnant amidst suspicion that the father was responsible for the pregnancy.

The convict was said to have replaced his deceased wife with his 14-year-old daughter who was in JSS3, sleeping with her on his matrimonial bed while her two younger brothers were made to sleep on the floor.

Metro

Trucks, Passengers Stranded On Auchi-Benin Highway For Days

Published

9 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Hundreds of articulated vehicles have been left stranded on the busy Auchi-Benin highway for over four days owing to the deplorable state of the highway.

The long queue of the stranded vehicles spanned over 10 kilometres from Aviele to Iyamoh axis of the highway.

The Aviele section of the road, like several other parts of the over 140km highway, has collapsed.

Some of the drivers, particularly those conveying perishable goods from the Northern part of the country to South, lament their loss.

A driver, Mallam Isa Adamu said he has spent four days on the road and had to dispose off his perishable goods cheaply in order not to incur complete loss.

Another driver, Murtala Isiaku said several of his livestock have died owing to long stay without food and water.

According to him, “I tried getting some edible grass for them here to survive, of course, it’s like several persons pursuing fewer materials.

“I am not the only driver carrying goats and other animals, we all have to struggle for the little available to take care of our animals.

“While some have sold off their goods cheaply, I have also seen some discharging their cows here to enter into the bush with the help of herdsmen they hired here.”

Meanwhile, a motorist with a popular transport line in Auchi who identified himself as Lucky, said the blockage has necessitated them to take a longer route to Benin from Auchi.

“For days now, we have not been able to go to Benin through Ekpoma because of the blockage.

“Several protests have been made to get government’s attention to fix this road, yet, things seem to be going from bad to worse.

“This bad Aviele section is only an addition to several other bad portions of the highway from Auchi to Benin.

“We are in for a terrible time this season as the rain is yet to set in fully,” he stated.

It will be recalled that on Monday, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi terminated the contract of the three contractors handling the project from Benin to Obajana in Kogi state for poor performance.

Metro

Bandits Terrorizing Benue Gunned Down In Shootout With Police

Published

11 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

Two members of the bandits terrorising the Sankera axis of Benue North East District have been killed in a shootout with the Police at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The gang members were killed following the invasion of their camp by police operatives who received credible intelligence on their hideout.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene in a statement Monday in Makurdi said various arms and ammunition, camouflage uniforms, motorbikes, communication gadgets and other items were recovered from the bandits.

The statement read, “Benue state Police Command has continuously intensified efforts to clampdown on bandits in Sankera axis of the state in the last three months.

“Several operations carried out led to the arrest of suspects that have been charged to court while others were neutralized in the course of exchange of fire. Arms and ammunition have been recovered and many camps dislodged.

“As part of follow up operations, the Operation Zenda JTF invaded a criminal hideout at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala LGA June 30, 2024. And upon arrival at the camp, bandits engaged the Police in a gun duel to resist invasion into their camp but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the Police team.

“Two of the bandits received gunshot injuries, they have been confirmed dead by a Doctor and their corpses deposited at the General Hospital Ukum, while other suspects escaped.

“Exhibits recovered from the camps includes, two Pistols loaded with ammunition, three locally made short guns, 13 motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six walkie-talkies, one Toyota Corolla and one tricycle.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state Command, Hassan Yabanet who commended the bravery exhibited by these officers, has also enjoined the people of Sankera to avail useful information to the Police about the suspects at large who may be seen with gunshot injuries. He also reiterated his commitment to fight crimes in the state.”

Metro

KEDCO Throws Dangote Varsity Into Darkness Over N248m Debt

Published

11 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has disconnected the power supply to Aliko Dangote University, Wudil, over an outstanding debt of N248 million.

The Managing Director of KEDCO, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Monday that the company had no choice but to take action.

He said that the institution only made payment of N20 million out of the outstanding N248 million.

Yusuf vowed that the power supply would only be restored if the management made “appreciable payment’.

He further explained that KEDCO was spending heavily to purchase power from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), hence the need to redouble efforts toward revenue generation.

“I urge all institutions, including federal and state entities, as well as agencies, to settle their outstanding debts.

“We have measures in place to ensure collection of monies owed us,” Yusuf said. (NAN)