Justice has finally been served in a deeply disturbing case that shook the Ugolo community in Okpe, Delta State. A Federal High Court has sentenced one Mr. Collins, 56, to 60 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of defiling a nine-year-old girl. The court also ordered Collins to pay the sum of ₦50 million as compensation to the victim.
The case, which dates back to January 2023, came to light after the suspect was arrested following a carefully coordinated operation. Collins had initially fled after committing the crime, making it difficult for the police to apprehend him. He later made contact in an apparent bid to settle the matter outside the law, arriving at Lawfab Hotels, Osubi, on January 8, 2023, accompanied by two other men.
Collins arrived with the sum of ₦111,000, handing ₦100,000 to a contact and ₦11,000 to the victim's mother. He also admitted to having paid ₦600,000 to members of the community in an attempt to suppress the matter. During the meeting, he confessed to defiling the young girl but denied the full extent of his actions.
Unknown to Collins, the Divisional Police Officer of Orerokpe Division, CSP Ojo, had been alerted in advance and had deployed plain-clothes officers to the location. The suspect was arrested on the spot, subsequently charged to court, remanded in prison custody, and later granted bail pending trial.
Court's Verdict
After reading a comprehensive judgement, the presiding judge sentenced Mr. Collins to 60 years in prison. In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered him to pay ₦50 million in compensation to the victim. The judge further directed that the bribe money handed over to the police during the arrest be paid into the Delta State treasury within 24 hours.
The judge stated that the sentence was meant to serve as a strong deterrent to anyone contemplating similar offences. Special commendation was extended to the Investigating Police Officer, Cpl. Bright Mgbomene, attached to Orerokpe Division, for his diligent handling of the case from the point of arrest through to conviction.
This landmark judgment sends a clear message that child sexual abuse will not be tolerated in Delta State or anywhere across Nigeria. Report Naija continues to advocate for the protection of children and applauds the judiciary for delivering a verdict that reflects the gravity of this heinous crime.
