In the town of Igarra, within the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, a magistrate court has handed down a 14-year prison sentence to Dele Eric.
This verdict is in connection with his involvement in the gang rape and assault of a 22-year-old woman, reported to be a person with a disability.
The BraveHeart Initiative (BHI), a organization providing support for the case, disclosed in a statement on Monday, November 27, 2023, that Dele, aged 28, was found guilty on four counts and was sentenced without the possibility of a fine. Chief Magistrate (Special Grade) Nosa Musoe delivered the judgment on Friday, November 24, 2023, adhering to the provisions of the Edo State Criminal Code Law.
The incident, which took place in Ikpeshi town, involved Eric and others (currently evading capture) who inflicted machete wounds on the victim when she resisted their assault.
Furthermore, the convict was accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior, including masturbating and ejaculating on the face and mouth of the victim.
The charges against him were presented under case number MIG/23/2020, and the prosecution was led by Inspector Obaze Samuel from the Igarra Area Command of the Nigerian Police.
Mrs. Priscilla Usiobaifo, the Executive Director of BraveHeart Initiative, expressed satisfaction with the case's outcome in the statement.
She assured that the foundation remains committed to advocating for justice on behalf of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.
The statement highlighted the timeline of the foundation's involvement, stating, "BraveHeart Initiative (BHI) initiated intervention in the case on January 4, 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case was transferred to SCIID-Benin City on July 24, 2020, with the Arraignment taking place on August 12, 2020. A total of thirty (30) court sittings were conducted at the Magistrate Court in Igarra, distributed as four (4) in 2020, fourteen (14) in 2021, eight (8) in 2022, and four (4) in 2023. The COVID-19 crisis significantly prolonged the prosecution timeline, but the BHI team remained resilient and hopeful throughout the judicial process."
Usiobaifo expressed gratitude to the BraveHeart Initiative SGBV case workers for their unwavering determination for justice and support provided to the survivor, overcoming various limitations imposed by the stringent COVID-19 protocols in Edo State.
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