Delta Court Jails Man for Life Over Rape of 9-Year-Old Girl in Asaba

The Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has sentenced Abubakar Mohammed to life imprisonment without an option of fine after finding him guilty of raping a nine-year-old girl in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area.

Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro delivered the judgment on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Charge No. DTHC/ASB/CR/26/2025, State v. Abubakar Mohammed.

Mohammed was prosecuted by the Delta State Ministry of Justice under Sections 3(1)(a) and 4(1) of the Delta State Violence Against Persons Law, 2020.

The prosecution was led by Mrs. Victoria Ibegbulem, Principal State Counsel in the Sexual Offences Unit of the Ministry of Justice.

In her judgment, Justice Marshal-Umukoro held that the prosecution successfully established all the essential elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

The court relied principally on the direct evidence of the victim, which was supported by medical evidence, in reaching its guilty verdict.

Justice Marshal-Umukoro said the court considered several factors in determining the appropriate sentence, including the victim’s age and vulnerability, the abuse of trust and the circumstances surrounding the offence.

The court also considered evidence of an alleged previous abuse involving threats to the victim’s life.

According to the court, the circumstances of the case warranted a sentence beyond the statutory minimum.

Mohammed was consequently sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine.

The court further ordered that the convict’s name, photograph and other identifying particulars be entered in the Register of Convicted Sex Offenders maintained by the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State.

Justice Marshal-Umukoro also directed that the register be made accessible to members of the public.

The judgment reinforces Delta State’s legal efforts to prosecute sexual offences and impose severe penalties in cases involving the abuse of children and other vulnerable persons.