Anambra Court Delivers Life Sentence for Security Guard in Brutal Assault of 17 Year Old Teenage Hawker

 

A resounding victory against gender-based violence echoed through the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State, as 23-year-old security guard Michael Okoi faced life imprisonment for the horrific rape of a 17-year-old girl. The young victim, known only as Stephanie, was a hawker selling Ọkpa along the bustling Upper Iweka axis in Onitsha when the assault occurred on May 11, 2024. Justice Peace Otti, presiding over the case, delivered a judgment that underscored the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to protecting minors and punishing perpetrators of such heinous acts.

The case, prosecuted under Charge No. 1/630/2024, saw Okoi convicted on three of four counts brought by the Anambra State Ministry of Justice. These charges included rape, willful infliction of physical injuries, and offensive conduct, with the fourth count of stealing ₦8,000 from the victim dismissed due to inconsistent testimonies. Court records revealed a chilling sequence of events: Okoi, stationed at Enyo Filling Station along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, lured Stephanie into the security house under the guise of purchasing Ọkpa. After receiving his order, he instructed her to enter to collect payment, a pretext that masked his sinister intentions. Brandishing a gun to intimidate the unsuspecting teen, he forced her upstairs, where he brutally assaulted her.

Medical evidence presented during the trial painted a grim picture of the attack’s ferocity. Stephanie sustained severe injuries, including multiple tears and bruises, confirming the violence she endured. Despite Okoi’s claim during the June 19, 2025, trial that the encounter was consensual, Justice Otti decisively rejected this defense. Citing Section 34 of the Child Rights Law of Anambra State 2004, the judge clarified that a 17-year-old is legally a child, incapable of providing valid sexual consent under any circumstances. This legal stance, coupled with Okoi’s earlier confession to police and subsequent contradictory denial in court, sealed his fate.

Justice Otti’s ruling was unflinching in its condemnation of Okoi’s actions, which she described as “deplorable, terrifying, and utterly reprehensible.” The life sentence for rape was accompanied by ₦200,000 fines for each of the counts of inflicting injury and offensive conduct, sending a clear message that such atrocities have no place in society. The court also noted the victim’s vulnerability, emphasizing that Okoi exploited Stephanie’s economic struggles as a hawker to perpetrate his crime.

Voices from the community hailed the verdict as a triumph for justice. Eucharia Ijeoma Anekwe, Anambra State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN), praised the collaborative efforts that brought the case to a successful conclusion. She credited the European Union and International IDEA’s ROLAC project for equipping CPN members with the skills to pursue such cases relentlessly. Anekwe singled out Ugochi Freeman of the Creative Minds Center for Youth and Community Development for her tireless advocacy, ensuring the case progressed from Okpoko Police Station to the State CID and ultimately the High Court.

Freeman, reflecting on the verdict, lauded the legal prowess of Barr. Chinelo Akora from the Department of Public Prosecution, whose pro bono work secured two landmark convictions within a week. Freeman also acknowledged Magistrate Genevieve Osakwe’s early intervention, which ensured the case’s swift assignment to the Special Magistrate Court. The collective efforts of law enforcement, community vigilantes, and civil society organizations were instrumental in this outcome, Freeman noted.

Anambra State’s Attorney General, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, framed the judgment as a testament to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s zero-tolerance policy on gender-based violence. She warned perpetrators that Anambra offers no sanctuary for those who violate the rights of women and children. For Stephanie and her family, the ruling brought a sense of closure and restored dignity, while human rights advocates saw it as proof that perseverance and collaboration can triumph over adversity.

Anekwe urged victims and their families to break the silence surrounding gender-based violence, emphasizing that the judiciary remains a beacon of hope. She highlighted CPN’s ongoing sensitization efforts in schools, churches, and markets, reinforcing the message that justice is attainable. The organization’s office at the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare stands ready to support survivors, working alongside partners like the police, Red Cross, and National Human Rights Commission.

This landmark ruling not only delivers justice for Stephanie but also sets a powerful precedent in the fight against gender-based violence, affirming that the law will protect the vulnerable and hold perpetrators accountable.