A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced 25-year-old Jerry Njoku to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour after finding him guilty of defiling a 10-year-old girl.
In her judgment, Justice Rita Oguguo held that the prosecution established the case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the defendant’s conviction. The court also ordered Njoku to pay ₦5 million in compensation to the victim’s family.
Justice Oguguo directed that the seven-year prison term should run concurrently, while the compensation must be paid to the victim’s family.
Speaking after the judgment, the prosecuting counsel and Chief State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu, described the verdict as a strong warning to anyone who may contemplate similar offences. The defence counsel, however, declined to comment on the outcome of the case.
