- 55-Year-Old Jailed for 60 Years Over Abuse of Minor
- The court directed the forfeiture of N111,000 brought by the defendant in an attempt to resolve the matter privately
- During the trial, the defendant denied the allegations and called his wife as his only witness
A Delta State High Court in Orerokpe has sentenced a 55-year-old man, Collins Ika, to 60 years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl who had been placed in his care in Ugolo community, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the offences were committed between 2021 and 2022.
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Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Joe Egwu found the defendant guilty and imposed a 60-year prison term. The court also ordered him to pay N50 million in compensation to the victim.
In addition, the court directed the forfeiture of N111,000 brought by the defendant in an attempt to resolve the matter privately without the knowledge of the complainant, the police, or a human rights advocate. The sum 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 the defendant repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her to prevent disclosure.
The girl’s mother also testified that she had left her children in the care of the defendant, who was their neighbour, during her absence.
According to the prosecution, the abuse came to light after the child complained of persistent body pain, which prompted her to reveal the incidents.
Following a report to the police, the defendant fled the community but was later arrested in a sting operation facilitated by a human rights activist. The court heard that he was invited under the pretext of discussing a private settlement and was apprehended when he arrived with N111,000 allegedly intended to suppress 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 reasonable doubt and stated that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
