A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced a 25-year-old man, Jerry Njoku, to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour after finding him guilty of defiling a 10-year-old girl.
Delivering judgment, Justice Rita Oguguo held that the prosecution proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction of the defendant.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Njoku to pay N5 million as compensation to the victim’s family to support the child’s welfare.
While counsel to the convict declined to comment on the verdict, the prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Precious Ordu of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, welcomed the judgment, describing it as a victory for justice.
Ordu said the ruling would serve as a strong warning to individuals who prey on children, stressing the need to protect minors from sexual abuse.
She noted that the victim suffered severe physical and emotional trauma, adding that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offence.
According to the prosecutor, the combination of a custodial sentence with hard labour and financial compensation sends a clear message that crimes against children will attract stiff legal consequences.
She expressed hope that the judgment would discourage similar offences and reinforce efforts to safeguard the rights and well-being of children.