Calabar Court Sentences Man To Death For Raping Minor

A Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar has convicted and sentenced a 33-year-old man to death for aggravated assault, rape and armed robbery.

The convict, Okon Ekpo Effiong, was sentenced by Justice Blessing Egwu. The attack occurred on 27th April 2024 along Mount Zion Street in Calabar South Local Government Area, where Effiong and four others gang-raped a woman and two children after robbing them.

Passing sentence, Justice Egwu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge cited the aggravated circumstances, noting that one of the children was on her period when the assault occurred, and the victims were further violated in an unfinished building.

The principal counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, James Ibor Esq., explained the rationale behind the sentence. He stated, “After the conviction, during the sentencing hearing, the matter of aggravated assault came up. Here you have a scenario where it wasnt just armed robbery where they made away with valuables, they sexually molested children, one of whom was on her period. Then, they took their aunt to an unfinished building and took turns in raping her. Therefore it is beyond just the crime, but the impact other actions have on the victims”.

The convict, Effiong, expressed regret over his actions but described the sentence as excessive. His counsel, Bassey Otop Esq., indicated that the judgment would be appealed. The law provides the convict with the option of appeal up to the Supreme Court.

Effiong and one accomplice, who later died in custody, were arrested by the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police, Cross River State Command. This marks one of several convictions secured by the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative in rape cases across the state.