The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court at the High Court of Awka, Anambra State, has convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old final-year Mass Communication student, Wisdom Edem, to a combined 35 years in prison for the rape, sexual abuse, and infliction of injury on a 10-year-old girl. The court handed down sentences of 25 years, five years, and five years, respectively, on three separate counts.
Justice Peace Otti, who presided over the court, delivered the judgment on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in a case filed under Charge No. A/3C/2024: The State vs. Wisdom Edem. The defendant, who had been on bail throughout the trial, was conspicuously absent when the judgment was read, prompting the judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest and order that he be declared wanted, with his photographs circulated to the police and posted on the internet.
Details of the Charges
The three-count charge against Edem read as follows: Count 1 – Rape, contrary to Section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004; Count 2 – Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, contrary to Section 35(2) of the same law; and Count 3 – Inflicting Physical Injury, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Anambra State, 2017.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel Chinelo Akorah of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, called six witnesses and presented compelling evidence, including the defendant's confessional statement and a medical report. The victim, a 10-year-old girl, testified vividly about how the defendant deceived her into coming to his house under the pretext of filming a 'comedy skit'.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to the charge sheet, the victim had previously acted with the defendant and others, so she trusted him and went to his house with her younger sister. On arrival, the defendant sent the younger sister home to fetch a change of clothes for the victim, then instructed the victim to go into his room, claiming others were waiting there. Inside, she found no one. He locked the door, defiled her, and she began to bleed. A medical doctor who examined her that same day confirmed the bleeding and injuries in court.
In his defence, Edem denied any wrongdoing and made the shocking claim that the 10-year-old victim had seduced him. He alleged that the girl removed his clothes, inserted his penis into her vagina, and screamed. He also claimed she told him she was 14 years old and had a boyfriend.
Court Rejects 'Seduction' Defence
Justice Otti dismissed the defendant's claim outright, noting that the presence of blood on the victim proved she was a virgin. The judge held that under the law, a child is incapable of giving consent to sexual acts, rendering the defence legally untenable. The court further described the act as premeditated and carefully planned, noting that Edem had not even paid the child for the purported comedy skit, which added insult to injury.
The judge also pointed out that the victim's testimony was fully corroborated by the defendant's own confessional statement, in which he admitted that the victim came to his house with her younger sister. The prosecution's case was further strengthened by the testimonies of witnesses PW2 to PW6, including the police officer and vigilante who arrested the defendant.
Judgment and Additional Orders
In delivering the judgment, Justice Otti held that 'the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through eyewitness testimony, overwhelming circumstantial evidence, and the Defendant’s own confessional statement.' The court proceeded with the sentencing in the defendant's absence, in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State.
Beyond the prison terms, the court directed that Edem's university not issue him a certificate until he completes his prison term. He was also ordered to pay a fine of N200,000 as compensation to the victim for the physical injury inflicted on her.
Reaction and Commitment to Justice
The Principal State Counsel and the Public Relations Officer of FIDA (Federation of International Female Lawyers) were commended for their efforts in securing the conviction. The judgment reaffirms that Anambra State has zero tolerance for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and the Anambra State Ministry of Justice remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
