A 41-year-old man named Baridapsi Needam has been sentenced to 17 years in prison by a Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa for raping and impregnating his daughter.
The trial was ongoing when the victim gave birth to a baby girl.
Needam, in the case numbered YHC/14C/2022, was charged with rape under 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, informed the court that investigations revealed the accused began sexually abusing his daughter when she was seven years old.
Egbuson detailed that initially, the accused inserted his fingers into the victim’s vagina, progressing to sexual intercourse in 2020, which resulted in her pregnancy in 2022.
During the judgment delivery, presiding judge D.E Adokeme emphasized that the prosecution presented credible evidence, including a DNA test with a 99.99 percent match confirming that Needam fathered the child.
Judge Adokeme stated, “The prosecution has provided credible evidence and referenced the DNA result showing a 99.99 percent match that Needam is the father of the child.”
The court concluded that the prosecution had convincingly proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime of rape and sentenced him to 14 years in prison.
Following the verdict, Egbuson commented that the judgment would deter others from committing such atrocious acts, emphasizing that the court’s strong stance sends a clear message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated.
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.
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