Justice Blessing Egwu rules prosecution proved rape, armed robbery and aggravated assault beyond reasonable doubt over April 2024 attack in Calabar South.

A High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a 33-year-old man, Okon Effiong, to death after finding him guilty of raping two children and a woman during a violent robbery.

Justice Blessing Egwu delivered the judgment on Monday, convicting Effiong on charges of rape, aggravated assault and armed robbery. The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, warranting the maximum penalty prescribed by law.

According to information, the incident occurred on April 27, 2024, along Mount Zion Street in the Calabar South Local Government Area. Effiong and four accomplices reportedly attacked the victims after dispossessing them of valuables.

Effiong was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Nigeria Police, Cross River State Command. One of his co-defendants later died while in custody, while efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects.

Reacting to the ruling, James Ibor, principal counsel of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), said the death sentence reflected the seriousness of the offences, despite sustained campaigns against capital punishment.

Effiong expressed remorse in court and described the sentence as harsh, noting that he retains the right to appeal up to the Supreme Court. His lawyer, Bassey Otop of the Centre for Citizens’ Rights and the Office of the Public Defender, confirmed that the defence will challenge the verdict on appeal.

One of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the trauma of the attack remains but that the conviction has brought some relief. She praised the prosecution team for their diligence and professionalism throughout the trial.

“I am grateful to everyone who ensured that justice was served,” she said. “I only hope that the other people involved are also arrested and held accountable.”

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