Court sentences businessman to four years in prison for rape

An Upper Area Court III sitting in Kasuwan Nama in Jos North Council of Plateau State yesterday sentenced a 31-year-old businessman, Joseph Vongjem, to fours years in prison for rapping a 13-year-old girl.

The Judge, Yahaya Mohammed, did not give the convict any option of fine.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the accused had pleaded guilty to the offence, which prosecutors said was contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

“I am very sorry for what I have done to the innocent girl. I will never do it again. Have mercy on me,” Vongjem pleaded.

The prosecutor, D. A. Edward, a Police Sergeant, had told the court that the case was reported on September 20, last year by one Musa Sunday, the victim’s grandfather, at the Nasarawa Gwom Police Station.

Edward told the court that the accused lured the girl to his room with N500 and raped her.