By Mokobia Rita.
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has sentenced Abubakar Mohammed to life imprisonment for the rape of 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, after finding the defendant guilty of the offence.
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 had proved the essential elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
The court relied on the direct testimony of the nine-year-old victim, which was corroborated by medical evidence presented during the trial.
The judge said the court took into consideration the victim’s age and vulnerability, as well as the circumstances of the offence and the abuse of trust involved, in determining the appropriate sentence.
The court also considered evidence relating to an earlier alleged incident of abuse in which threats were reportedly made against the victim’s life.
Justice Marshal-Umukoro subsequently sentenced Mohammed to life imprisonment without an option of a fine.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered that Mohammed’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.
The judge further directed that the register be made accessible to members of the public.
The judgment comes against the background of Delta State’s established system for registering and publishing information on convicted sex offenders under its Violence Against Persons Law.
