A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced a 25-year-old man, Jerry Njoku, to seven years in prison with hard labour for defiling a 10-year-old girl.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the trial judge, Justice Rita Oguguo, also ordered the convict to pay N5 million to the family of the minor for her upkeep.

Justice Oguguo held that the prosecution had proved the case of defilement against the convict, Jerry Njoku, and sentenced him to seven years with hard labour. The sentence Is to run concurrently, alongside a fine of N5 million to be paid to the victim’s family.

PUNCH Online reports that while the defence counsel declined to comment on the judgment, the prosecution counsel, Precious Ordu, a Chief State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, described the judgment as a welcome development.

Ordu said the judgment was justice for the state, the victim and the convict, insisting that it would serve as a deterrent to those planning to engage in such acts.

He stated, “Well, it’s an offence of defilement and the court today gave a judgment that is so overwhelming.

“I’m sure both the state, the defendant, and the victim have also benefited from the judgment. The court gave a seven-year sentence to the defendant with hard labour and a fine of N5 million to be paid to the victim’s family for the upkeep of the girl, the victim herself.

“It is a welcome development that at least those who have the intention of defiling minors will also sit up and control their urge.” (The PUNCH)