Man serves 14 years in prison for raping and impregnating his daughter

The High Court of Bayelsa State in Yenagoa has sentenced 41-year-old Baridapsi Needam to 14 years in prison for raping and impregnating his daughter.

However, the victim, who hails from Ogani Wily Kaira Community in Ogoni, Rivers State, gave birth to a baby girl during the trial.

The defendant, Mr. Needam, was charged in suit number YHC/14C/2022 with the offence of rape contrary to Section 1(1) of the Bayelsa State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2021.

The State Prosecutor and Deputy Director of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice, Pere Amanda Egbuson, had told the court that investigations revealed that the accused, Mr Needam, started fingering his daughter when she was seven years old and had sex with her from 2020 until she became pregnant in 2022.

In delivering the verdict, presiding judge DE Adokeme stated that the prosecution had presented credible evidence and referred to the DNA results which indicated with 99.99 percent certainty that the convicted man was the father of the child.

The court ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Needam committed the offence of rape and sentenced him to 14 years in prison.

After the verdict was announced, Senior Prosecutor Egbuson said the verdict would serve as a deterrent to others who engage in such unimaginable acts and sent a clear message that the court would not tolerate such heinous acts.