A Rivers State Family Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced 75-year-old Promise Chukwumatti to 10 years in prison after finding him guilty of defiling an 11-year-old girl in a case that has renewed concerns over sexual violence against children in Nigeria.
The conviction followed a trial in which the prosecution presented eyewitness testimony, forensic findings, physical evidence and the defendant’s confessional statement, all of which the court said established the offence beyond reasonable doubt. Delivering judgment, Justice Rita Oguguo held that the evidence presented by the prosecution met the legal threshold required for a conviction.
The court ruled that the testimonies of witnesses, supported by forensic and medical evidence, as well as the defendant’s own statement, clearly established that the offence had occurred.
“The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge ruled before pronouncing the sentence.
Victim advocates have repeatedly argued that strong prosecution and survivor protection are essential, concerns that were also highlighted following the controversial acquittal of televangelist Timothy Omotoso in South Africa.
Convict Added to Sex Offenders Register
Beyond the prison sentence, the court ordered that Chukwumatti’s name be entered into the Rivers State Sex Offenders Register, a database designed to identify individuals convicted of sexual offences and strengthen public safety measures.
The judge also awarded ₦1 million in compensation to the victim’s family, noting that survivors of sexual abuse often suffer lasting physical, emotional and psychological trauma.
In addition, the court issued a restraining order preventing both the convict and members of his family from approaching or contacting the victim or her relatives.
Justice Oguguo observed that the offence ordinarily carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under applicable laws protecting children from sexual abuse. However, the court said it exercised judicial discretion after considering the convict’s plea for mercy during sentencing.
The judge also took into account submissions regarding the welfare of the convict’s motherless children before settling on a 10-year prison term. Despite the reduced sentence, the judge condemned the offence in strong terms, describing the convict as “a shame to fatherhood.”
During the trial, prosecuting counsel Precious Ordu told the court that the elderly man repeatedly targeted the 11-year-old girl while she was on her way to school. According to the prosecution, he allegedly lured the child with money before taking her into his apartment, where the abuse occurred on multiple occasions.
The prosecution argued that the pattern of abuse, coupled with scientific evidence and witness testimony, left no doubt about the defendant’s guilt. The case also adds to a series of sexual offence prosecutions that have drawn international attention, including the rape charges brought against former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.
Child Sexual Abuse Remains a National Concern
The conviction comes amid growing judicial efforts to prosecute sexual offences and hold offenders accountable, both in Nigeria and internationally, as seen in cases involving a Chinese PhD student sentenced to 24 years in the UK for drugging and raping multiple women.
The case highlights the continuing challenge of child sexual abuse across Nigeria, where rights advocates have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and faster prosecution of sexual offences.
Legal experts have also stressed the importance of maintaining sex offenders’ registers, providing psychological support for survivors and ensuring that convicted offenders face appropriate sanctions to deter future crimes.
Child protection organisations have long argued that many cases of sexual abuse go unreported because of stigma, fear of retaliation and pressure on families to settle matters outside the justice system.
The Rivers State judgment is expected to reinforce the state’s commitment to prosecuting sexual offences involving minors and protecting victims through compensation and restraining orders.
