Delta Court Sentences Man to 60 Years for Rape

On Monday, the Delta State High Court, presided over by Justice Joe Egwu, sentenced 55-year-old Collin Ika to 60 years in prison for the rape of an 11-year-old girl in Ugolo Community, Okpe Local Government Area. The offense occurred between 2021 and 2022.

The court delivered its judgment after the prosecution, led by Miss Phoebian Onomakpom, Assistant Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The victim testified that Ika repeatedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse.

The girl's mother also testified that she had entrusted her children to Ika during her absence. Following the victim's report of persistent waist pain, the police were notified, leading to Ika's arrest.

The court ordered Ika to pay N50 million in compensation to the victim and forfeited N111,000 that he allegedly intended to use to settle the matter outside of court.