Court Jails Man 60 Years, ₦50m for Child Rape

A High Court in Delta State has sentenced Mr. Collins to 60 years imprisonment for the rape of a nine-year-old girl, bringing to a close a case that began in January 2023. The court also ordered him to pay ₦50 million in compensation to the victim. In addition, the judge directed that the ₦111,000 he attempted to use as a bribe be paid into the Delta State treasury within 24 hours.

The case dates back to January 8, 2023, when the 56-year-old suspect, a resident of Ugolo in Okpe Local Government Area, was apprehended at Lawfab Hotels in Osubi. He had allegedly tried to evade arrest before agreeing to a meeting where he admitted to defiling the child. Unknown to him, the then Divisional Police Officer of Orerokpe Division, CSP Ojo, had been alerted and deployed plain-clothed officers to the location, leading to his arrest.

During the operation, the convict handed over ₦100,000 as part of the bribe and ₦11,000 to the victim’s mother, while claiming he had previously given ₦600,000 to members of the community to suppress the matter. The police subsequently charged him to court. He was remanded in custody and later granted bail pending the conclusion of trial.

Delivering the judgment, the trial judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and imposed the 60-year prison term to reflect the gravity of the offence. The court commended the efforts of the prosecuting counsel, Barr. Phoebian Onomakpome, and the Investigating Police Officer, Cpl. Bright Mgbomene of Orerokpe Division, noting that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others.