A Rivers State Family Court has handed down a firm judgment that sends a clear message — no one is above the law when it comes to protecting our children.
A 75-year-old man, Promise Chukwumatti, has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment with no option of fine after being found guilty of defiling an 11-year-old girl. The judgment was delivered by a Rivers State Family Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
The Case That Shook the Community
This case is a sobering reminder that the danger to our children does not always come from strangers on the street — sometimes it lurks much closer to home. The victim, a young girl of just 11 years old, had her innocence stolen by a man old enough to be her grandfather.
The court’s decision to impose a straight ten-year custodial sentence without any option of fine reflects the seriousness with which the judiciary is beginning to treat cases of child sexual abuse in Nigeria. There would be no paying his way out. No settlement. No quiet resolution. Justice was served.
Why This Judgment Matters for Nigeria
For too long, cases of child defilement in our communities have been swept under the carpet — settled with bottles of schnapps and “family meetings” that leave survivors traumatised and perpetrators walking free. Many families, out of shame or societal pressure, never even report such incidents to the authorities.
This conviction is a step in the right direction. It signals that:
– Our courts can and will prosecute child abusers, regardless of their age or status
– Children deserve legal protection, and the law will enforce it
– Survivors can get justice when cases are properly reported and prosecuted
Protecting Our Children Starts With Us
As Nigerians, we must collectively change our attitude toward child sexual abuse. We cannot continue to treat it as a family matter to be hushed up. Every child who is abused and whose case is silenced becomes another statistic — and another predator walks free to strike again.
Parents and guardians are urged to:
1. Educate children about body safety and the concept of consent from an early age
2. Create an environment where children feel safe to speak up without fear or shame
3. Report suspected abuse to the nearest police station or family court immediately
4. Seek professional help for survivors through counselling and support services
The Law Is Clear
Under Nigerian law, particularly the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act* and the *Child Rights Act, sexual offences against minors carry severe penalties. Rivers State is among the states that have domesticated the Child Rights Act, giving the courts the legal framework to prosecute and punish offenders decisively.
Promise Chukwumatti’s sentencing is proof that the system can work — but only when cases are reported and pursued.
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If you know of a child who may be experiencing abuse, please report it to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) or your nearest police station. You can also call the Child Helpline at 116.
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