Delta State man sentenced to 60 years for raping 11-year-old girl; court orders ₦50m compensation and forfeiture of ₦111,000 attempted hush money

A Delta State High Court of Justice in Orerokpe has sentenced 55-year-old Collins Ika to 60 years’ imprisonment for raping an 11-year-old girl entrusted to him in the Ugolo community, Okpe Local Government Area. The offences occurred between 2021 and 2022.

Also read: Simi Faces Backlash After TikToker Fakes Rape Claim

Justice Joe Egwu, delivering the judgment on Monday, also ordered the convict to pay ₦50 million as compensation to the victim.

Additionally, the court forfeited ₦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. The money will be forfeited to the Delta State Government.

The prosecution, led by Assistant Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Miss Phoebian Onomakpome, told the court that the victim testified that Collins Ika repeatedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of her and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the abuse.

The victim’s mother also testified that she had entrusted her children to the defendant, their neighbour, during her absence. The girl later disclosed the abuse after experiencing persistent waist pains.

Following a police report, Collins Ika fled but was arrested in a sting operation facilitated by a human rights activist. The defendant had arrived with ₦111,000 under the guise of settling the matter, allegedly intending to hush the case.

During the trial, Collins Ika denied the allegations and called only his wife as a witness. Justice Egwu held that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, stressing that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.

Also read: Lagos Police Arrest Taxi Driver for Rape, Robbery

The ruling follows a similar case in 2025, where an Ekiti State High Court sentenced 33-year-old Olamilekan Ajewole to life imprisonment for raping a 10-year-old girl in Ayetoro Ekiti.