By Harrison Essien
July 1, 2026
Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Abasi has sentenced a man, Israel Emmanuel Jacob, to life imprisonment for raping a minor.
Justice Ini-Abasi Udobong convicted the defendant after finding him guilty of the offence and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The case of the prosecution is that the victim had been sent by her mother to a nearby farm to fetch cassava stems when she encountered the defendant.
According to the prosecution, Israel Emmanuel Jacob falsely accused the child of stealing the cassava stems and threatened to report her to the owner of the farm, unless she agreed to have sexual intercourse with him.
When the victim refused, the defendant forcefully tore her pants and raped her.
The child cried out and raised an alarm, but no one came to her rescue.
The defendant fled the scene after committing the offence, but was later arrested.
