A High Court in Imo State has sentenced Samuel Ehirim, a 42-year-old pastor, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a minor.
The judgment was delivered recently by Justice C.O. Chukwumaeze, who held that the prosecution proved its case “beyond reasonable doubt” and established the defendant’s guilt through credible and consistent evidence.
Ehirim was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on sexual assault, assault with intent to commit an unnatural offence, indecent treatment of girls under the age of 13, and assault, contrary to the provisions of the Imo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law No. 8 of 2021 and the Criminal Code.
In her judgment, Justice Chukwumaeze said the evidence before the court “overwhelmingly” showed that Ehirim committed the offences.
The judge held that the defence failed to discredit the prosecution’s witnesses or create any reasonable doubt during the trial.
She further found that the victim, who had been living with the convict, was subjected to repeated sexual abuse.
Although defence counsel S.E. Ibechem, who held the brief of D.O. Agbo, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, the judge convicted Ehirim on all five counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Speaking after the judgment, Ikenna Obi, counsel to the Imo State Ministry of Justice, described the conviction as a significant milestone in the enforcement of the state’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law.
Obi said the ruling demonstrated the state’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and gender-based violence.
He added that the judgment should serve as a warning to perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence.
The prosecutor also commended the court for the judgment, expressing confidence that it would strengthen efforts to combat gender-based violence in the state.
