A High Court in Orerokpe, Delta State, has sentenced 55-year-old Collins Ika to 60 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl placed in his care in Ugolo community, Okpe Local Government Area.
The offences occurred between 2021 and 2022. Delivering judgment Monday, Justice Joe Egwu also ordered the convict to pay ₦50 million in compensation to the victim.
The court further directed the forfeiture of ₦111,000 brought by the defendant in an attempt to settle the matter privately without the knowledge of the complainant, police, or a human rights activist. The sum was ordered forfeited to the Delta State Government.
Prosecuting counsel, Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, an Assistant Director with the Delta State Ministry of Justice, told the court that the victim testified the defendant repeatedly abused her and threatened her against disclosure.
Her mother also testified she had left her children in the defendant’s care while away. The abuse came to light after the girl complained of persistent waist pain and later revealed what happened.
After a report to police, the defendant fled but was later arrested in a sting operation arranged with the help of a human rights activist. He had been invited under the pretext of discussing an out-of-court settlement and was apprehended when he arrived with ₦111,000 allegedly meant to silence the case.
During trial, the defendant denied the allegations and called only his wife as a witness. In his ruling, Justice Egwu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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