By Jonathan Ugbal
Justice Blessing Egwu of the Calabar Division of the High Court of Cross River State on Thursday sentenced one Matthew Sunday Uyangha to 25 years in prison for abduction and rape.
Mr. Uyangha had in July 2022, abducted a 13-Year-old ophan (name withheld) from Akpabuyo, drugged her, and took her to somewhere in Esuk Utan in Calabar where he raped her several times over the course of two months before he was apprehended.
And, on Thursday, Justice Egwu held that the evidence against Mr. Uyangha was overwhelming and found him guilty of the two charges preferred against him bordering on abduction and rape.
Reacting to the judgment, James Ibor Esq who is the lead Counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), commended the State and the Judiciary for their determination to keep children safe.
He said the judgment showed that there is no place for rapists in Cross River as the judgment is a strong statement that the State is willing to uphold the true spirit of the Child Rights Law among others. He also commended the Ministry of Justice, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for their roles in ensuring justice was done and seen to be done.
On her part, a member of FIDA who was in the prosecution team, Rajunor Tom, Esq commended the judiciary and the Judge for her courage in ensuring justice is done.
Also, Jacob Oban, Esq who handled the brief of NAPTIP said he is happy about the outcome of the case.
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