By Patrick Obia
A High Court of Cross River State (Family Court 2), sitting in Calabar, and presided over by Justice Blessing Egwu, has sentenced a 47-year-old man, Ita Okon to life imprisonment for rape.
Ita Okon was convicted on Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 after he was found guilty of the crime.
In addition to the life sentence, the Court also awarded a compensation of one million (₦1,000,000) Naira to the 8-year-old survivor (name withheld due to stigmatization).
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the Nigerian Police Force, Cross River State, the Ministry of Justice, Cross River State, and the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative for the output,” a statement from the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, which followed up the trial, read.
“The war against Violence Against Women and Girls must be won,” the nonprofit organization added.