A court in Awka, Anambra State, on Wednesday sentenced a 34-year-old teacher, Pascal Ofomata, to 12 years in prison for raping an 11-year-old JSS 1 student.

Ofomata, who taught at St Christopher’s Junior Seminary 3-3 Onitsha, faced three charges: rape; causing physical harm; and sexual abuse under sections 3(1) and 4(1) of the Violence against Persons Prohibition Law and the offence of Sexual Abuse punishable under section 35(2) of the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State.

He denied the charges, saying he did not penetrate the victim’s anus.

But Ofomata admitted in his statement to the police that he sucked the victim’s penis and told the victim to kiss him.

The court found the defendant guilty after a thorough trial that included assessments of the victim’s doctor and the investigating police officer, and it upheld the prosecutor’s case.

Justice Peace Otti convicted Ofomata and sentenced him to 12 years in jail.

The court also banned him from working in schools or in any establishment with persons under 18 such as primary, secondary, and even tertiary institutions.

The court, in addition, barred him from being employed in any establishment with persons under 18 such as primary, secondary, and even tertiary institutions.