In a significant legal development, an Akwa Ibom State High Court in Eket has handed down a life sentence to Uduak Moses Idimudo, a 37-year-old man found guilty of raping two teenage girls, aged 14 and 15. The victims, both students of a secondary school in Eket, endured a prolonged series of assaults.
Idimudo, hailing from Efoi in Eket Local Government Area, faced a total of 20 charges, with the court ultimately convicting him on 19 counts of rape. Justice Efiong Efiong, presiding over the case, delivered the verdict, underscoring the severity of the crimes committed.
The ordeal began in July 2020 when one of the victims, who, along with her 14-year-old friend, was selling fried cow skin meat (“kanda”) on the streets of Efoi. Idimudo purchased meat worth N700 and lured them to his room under the guise of payment. Once inside, he subjected them to unspeakable acts of violence, warning them against disclosing the events to their parents or anyone else.
The victims endured repeated assaults from July 2020 to April 2021, with the perpetrator manipulating them into silence through fear and intimidation. It wasn’t until a vigilant neighbor reported the suspicious visits to Idimudo’s house that the crimes came to light.
During the one-hour judgment, Justice Efiong expressed his conviction in the victims’ testimonies, supported by the defendant’s confessional statement and medical evidence of forceful penetration. He characterized Idimudo as “a despicable character” and emphasized that such behavior had no place in a civilized society.
The court highlighted the alarming frequency of rape cases, particularly in the Eket Judicial Division, emphasizing the need for stringent legal action to curb this societal menace.
Barrister Ime Ifon from the Ministry of Justice praised the judgment, emphasizing its potential as a deterrent for other rapists awaiting justice. The decision sends a strong message about the community’s commitment to protecting its members from such heinous crimes.
CREDIT: DailyPost
