A commercial motorcycle operator, Michael Effiong Japhet,
has been sentenced to life imprisonment for r@ping a married woman and nursing
mother in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Japhet was convicted and sentenced on Tuesday, July 7, 2026
after Akwa Ibom State High Court, Uyo, presided over by Hon. Justice Archibong
Archibong, found him guilty of r@pe and stealing punishable under the Criminal
Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.
The incident occurred on February 23, 2015, after the
victim, a fruit seller at the popular Ekom Iman Junction in Uyo, hired the
motorcyclist to take her home to Ikot Ofon, Ikono, at the close of the day’s
business.
Rather than following the agreed route, the convict
reportedly diverted to Ikot Nsung, Ikono, drove into a bush path and falsely
claimed that his motorcycle had run out of fuel.
He forcefully collected the victim’s purse containing N7,000
and a China Nokia phone before threatening her with a knife and demanding that
she undress.
Despite her pleas that she was married and a nursing mother,
the convict r@ped her at knifepoint before fleeing with his motorcycle.
The following morning, while on her way to Ekom Iman
Junction to resume her fruit business, the victim spotted the convict and
alerted her husband.
The suspect was immediately apprehended and the victim’s
phone was recovered from him.
In a judgment that lasted about one hour, Justice Archibong
Archibong sentenced Japhet to life imprisonment for r@pe and three years’
imprisonment for stealing.
Japhet pleaded with the Court for mercy but the judge said
his hands were tied .
The judgment brings to an end 11 years of diligent
prosecution by Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice.
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