A Delta State High Court sitting in Orerokpe has sentenced a 55-year-old man, Collins Ika, to 60 years’ imprisonment for raping an 11-year-old girl entrusted to his care in Ugolo community, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.
The offences were committed between 2021 and 2022.
Delivering judgment on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Joe Egwu, also ordered the convict to pay N50m as compensation to the victim.
In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of N111,000 brought by the defendant in an attempt to settle the matter out of court without the knowledge of the complainant, the police or a human rights activist. The money was ordered forfeited to the Delta State Government.
The prosecution, led by Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, an Assistant Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, told the court that the victim testified that the defendant repeatedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse.
The girl’s mother also testified that she had entrusted her children to the defendant, who was their neighbour, during her absence.
According to the prosecution, the victim later revealed the abuse after complaining of persistent waist pain.
Following a report to the police, the defendant fled the community but was subsequently apprehended in a sting operation facilitated by a human rights activist.
The court heard that the defendant was invited under the pretext of discussing an out-of-court settlement and was arrested when he arrived with N111,000, allegedly intended to hush up the case.
During the trial, the defendant denied the allegations and called his wife as his only witness.
In his ruling, Justice Egwu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to 60 years’ imprisonment.
He stated that the judgment should serve as a deterrent to others.
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