Court Jails Man 20 Years for Raping Minor in Delta

A High Court sitting in Kwale, Delta State has sentenced a 55-year-old man, Emmanuel Akpan, to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for raping a minor.

The court, presided over by Justice O. Enenmo, delivered the judgment on April 28, 2026, after finding the defendant guilty of the offence.

The prosecution, led by Catherine Onoberhie-Oberuomo, an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice, charged the defendant with one count of rape.

According to the prosecution, the victim, a 9-year-old girl, was the daughter of the defendant’s fiancée and was staying with her aunt at the time of the incident. The court heard that the defendant took advantage of his fiancée’s absence to repeatedly assault the child between 2023 and September 2024.

The victim was reportedly threatened by the defendant to remain silent, but later disclosed the abuse to her mother, who reported the matter to authorities, leading to his arrest and prosecution.

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.