Delta State High Court has sentenced Collins Ika, a 55-year-old man, to 60 years in prison for the rape of an 11-year-old girl in the Ugolo community. The crime occurred between 2021 and 2022. The court also mandated that Ika pay ₦50 million to the victim as compensation.
Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of “₦111,000 brought by the defendant in an attempt to settle the matter out of court without the knowledge of the complainant, the police, or a human rights activist,” to the Delta State Government.
The prosecution, led by Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, stated that the victim “testified that the accused repeatedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and threatened to kill her if she opened up to anybody.” The girl’s mother had entrusted her children to the defendant.
After the abuse came to light, the defendant fled but was later apprehended. He was arrested when he arrived with “₦111,000, allegedly intended to hush the case.”
During the trial, the defendant denied the accusations. Justice Egwu ruled that the prosecution had proven its case, and sentenced the defendant to 60 years, stating that “the judgment should serve as a deterrent to others.”
The story also mentioned a similar case from 2025, where Olamilekan Ajewole was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, with the charge stating, “That the defendants on June 29, 2024, at Ayetoro Ekiti did conspire to rape a 10-year-old girl, contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap.C7, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.”
