The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a motorcyclist, Michael Effiong Japhet, to imprisonment for life for raping a nursing mother.

Justice Archibong Archibong found the suspect guilty of rape and stealing punishable under the Criminal Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.

It was gathered that Japhet, a commercial motorcycle operator, forced himself on the victim after threatening her with a knife on February 23, 2015.

The victim, a fruit seller, was said to have boarded the motorcycle of the convict at Ekom Iman Junction in Uyo to take her home in Ikot Ofon, Ikono, at the close of the day’s business.

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Rather than take the agreed route, the convict diverted to Ikot Nsung, Ikono, and drove into a bush path on the false claim that his motorcycle had run out of fuel.

It was gathered that the convict forcefully collected the victim’s purse containing N7,000 and a phone before threatening her with a knife, demanding that she undress.

Despite the victim’s pleas that she was married and a nursing mother, the convict raped her while threatening to stab her if she did not comply, before fleeing with his motorcycle.

According to the victim, the next morning, while on her way to Ekom Iman Junction to resume her fruit business, she spotted the convict and alerted her husband.

The suspect was immediately apprehended and the victim’s phone was recovered from him.

In his judgment, Justice Archibong sentenced Japhet to life imprisonment for rape and three years’ imprisonment for stealing.

The judgment brought to an end the 11-year-old case, which was diligently prosecuted by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice. (Daily Trust)