Anambra Court Sentences 34-Year-Old Man to 16 Years for Abduction and Sexual Assault

Onyedika Okafor has been sentenced to 16 years in prison by an Awka court for abduction and rape, with orders to be registered as a sexual offender.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette (NAN)

The Verdict in Awka

In a significant ruling at the Awka Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court on Monday, April 27, 2026, 34-year-old Onyedika Okafor was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment. Delivering the judgment, Justice Peace Otti affirmed that the prosecution successfully proved the counts of abduction and rape beyond a reasonable doubt. Beyond the custodial sentence, Ms. Otti mandated that the convict’s name be entered into the state’s sexual offender register, a move aimed at enhancing public safety and tracking of gender-based violence offenders.

Details of the 2022 Assault

The prosecution, led by Assistant Chief State Counsel Chikodili Enemuo, detailed a harrowing event that occurred on October 8, 2022. According to court records, Okafor and several armed accomplices stormed the victim’s residence in Ezinifite village, Awka. Despite attempts by neighbors to intervene, Okafor used a weapon to threaten the witnesses and forcibly abducted the woman. He then transported her to an uncompleted building where the assault took place.

Evidence and Witness Testimonies

The victim reported the incident to the police immediately following her release, which led to Okafor's arrest. During the trial, the prosecution presented a robust case involving four key witnesses: