A commercial motorcyclist, Michael Effiong Japhet, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo for raping a nursing mother after robbing her at knifepoint.

Justice Archibong Archibong convicted Japhet on charges of rape and stealing under the Criminal Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000, bringing to a close an 11-year legal battle.

The court heard that the incident occurred on February 23, 2015, when the victim, a fruit seller, boarded the convict’s motorcycle at Ekom Iman Junction in Uyo on her way home to Ikot Ofon in Ikono Local Government Area after the day’s business.

Instead of taking the agreed route, Japhet reportedly diverted into a bush path at Ikot Nsung, falsely claiming that his motorcycle had run out of fuel.

According to evidence before the court, the convict robbed the woman of her purse containing N7,000 and a mobile phone before threatening her with a knife and forcing her to undress.

Despite the victim’s pleas that she was married and nursing a baby, Japhet raped her while threatening to stab her if she resisted. He later fled the scene on his motorcycle.

The victim told the court that the following morning, while returning to Ekom Iman Junction to continue her fruit business, she spotted the convict and alerted her husband, who helped apprehend him. Her stolen phone was subsequently recovered from the suspect.

Delivering judgment, Justice Archibong sentenced Japhet to life imprisonment for rape and an additional three years’ imprisonment for stealing.

The prosecution, handled by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice, successfully secured the conviction after 11 years of legal proceedings.