Electronic Retailer Stephen Okparea Sentenced for Rape

Stephen Okparea, a 42-year-old electronic retailer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, Lagos. Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the judgment after Okparea was found guilty of defilement.

The survivor, whose name has been withheld, testified that Okparea had been sexually abusing her from the age of 9 until she was 14. The abuse occurred when her mother was out for business, typically between 5 to 6 am, or when she was taking a bath in the evening.

Okparea was arrested and claimed he only had sexual intercourse with her twice when visiting their new apartment to collect money owed to him. The conviction was based on an incident that took place in March 2023 at Ago-owo street, Shongunle, Lagos State, which violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Okparea was arraigned on April 15, 2025, and pleaded not guilty.