A Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale has convicted and sentenced a 55-year-old man, Emmanuel Akpan, to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for raping a 9-year-old girl in Azunze community, Kwale,Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
The court, presided over by Hon. Justice O. F. Enenmo delivered the verdict on the 28 of April, 2026. The prosecution, led by Mrs. Catherine Onoberhie-Oberuomo, an Assistant Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, had charged the defendant with one count of rape.
According to the prosecution, the victim was the daughter of the defendant’s fiancée. The victim was staying with her aunt, who was the defendant’s fiancée, at the time of the incident. The defendant took advantage of the situation when his fiancée traveled and raped the victim on multiple occasions in 2023 and September 2024.
The defendant threatened the victim that if she told her mother about the incident, he would beat her. However, the victim eventually reported the case to her mother, who promptly reported it to the authorities.
After reviewing the evidence presented, the court convicted Akpan and handed down a 20-year jail term with hard labour, reflecting the gravity of the offence.
The judgment is seen as a strong stance against sexual violence, particularly crimes involving minors, and reinforces ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals in society.