Upper Area Court in Ganye, Adamawa State, has ordered the immediate remand of Jediel Sylvester after he confessed in open court to the repeated sexual assault and impregnation of his biological daughter.
Upon the reading of the charges, Sylvester entered a plea of guilty without reservation, attributing his actions to “lust”.
The legal proceedings (Case No: UACG/NO1/CR/FI/113/26) were initiated following a direct criminal complaint filed by the victim and her uncle, Mohammed Audi. The presiding judge, Hon. Kabiru Musa, ordered that the defendant be detained in a correctional facility pending further legal action.
Testimonies provided during the hearing detailed a harrowing pattern of abuse. The victim testified that Sylvester routinely employed physical violence and psychological terror to coerce her into submission, stating that he used threats and intimidation to ensure her compliance.
The abuse came to light after the victim missed her menstrual period. In a notable turn of events, Sylvester himself escorted the girl to a medical practitioner for an examination, which subsequently confirmed that she was three months pregnant.
The court heard that Sylvester subsequently attempted to conceal the crime through two distinct methods. He first pressured his daughter to falsely implicate another man for the pregnancy, a demand the victim resisted, maintaining that no other individual had touched her. Furthermore, he attempted to procure an abortion; however, medical professionals refused to perform the procedure, citing the significant safety risks associated with a termination at three months.
The prosecution asserted that Sylvester’s actions are in direct violation of Sections 367, 382, and 242 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, which cover the offences of incest, criminal intimidation, and assault. Following the defendant’s guilty plea, Hon. Kabiru Musa adjourned the case for formal sentencing.
