Justice S.K. Jobarteh of the High Court in Banjul, Gambia, has sentenced a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Moses Ukwai, to life imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old girl.
Ukwai faced two counts of rape under Section 3(1)(a) and punishable under Section 4(1)(bb) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2013.
The offences occurred in April 2025.
He was found guilty on the first count involving the seven-year-old, while he was discharged on the second count involving an eight-year-old.
The full witness testimony and sentencing details are expected to be released on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Reports say the court arrived at the verdict after reviewing the evidence presented during the trial
The judge described the offence as extremely grave, especially because the victim was a minor
Following the ruling, Ukwai was handed a life sentence, with the court stressing the importance of protecting children and ensuring that those who commit such crimes face the full weight of the law
