55-year-old man bags 60 years for raping minor

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. The prosecution, led by Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, told the court that the offence was committed in the Ugolo community of the Okpe Local Government Area between 2021 and 2022. The prosecution […]

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.

The prosecution, led by Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, told the court that the offence was committed in the Ugolo community of the Okpe Local Government Area between 2021 and 2022.

The prosecution said the victim testified how Ika repeatedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse.

 The girl’s mother also testified that she had entrusted the child and her siblings to the defendant, their neighbor, during her absence. 

The victim eventually disclosed the abuse after complaining of persistent waist pains.

Following a report to the police, the defendant fled but was later arrested in a sting operation facilitated by a human rights activist. 

The defendant was invited under the guise of a discussion and was arrested upon arrival with N111,000, which was allegedly intended to settle the case.

The defendant, represented by Dr. Brown Umukoro, denied the allegations and called his wife as his only witness.

In his ruling, Justice Egwu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. 

He sentenced Ika to 60 years imprisonment and ordered the convict to pay N50 million in compensation to the victim.

The court further ordered the forfeiture of the N111,000 brought by the defendant in his attempt to settle the matter out of court—without the knowledge of the complainant, the police, or the human rights activist—to the Delta State Government.