Justice Blessing Egwu of the Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced to death, 33-year-old Okon Effiong, for armed robbery, rape and aggravated assault.
Delivering judgment, the court found out that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and subsequently convicted Effiong for his role in an armed robbery attack carried out on April 27, 2024, on Mount Zion Street in Calabar South Local Government Area. During the attack, a woman and two minors were sexually harassed and assaulted, just like valuables were stolen from them.
Effiong was arrested alongside another suspect by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Cross River State Police Command. The arrested accomplice died in custody, while three other suspects involved in the incident are said to be at large.
The circumstances surrounding the attack and the level of harm inflicted on the victims, warranted the maximum punishment prescribed by law, the court held
“Deterrence remains central to the handling of cases of this nature. The era of treating such matters lightly is over,” Okoi Ukam Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state stated, while reacting to the judgement. Government, he further disclosed, has resolved to prosecute violent and sexual offences without compromise.
Effiong, the convict, expressed remorse but described the sentence as excessive. His counsel, Bassey Otop, said an appeal will be filed. Meanwhile, one of the survivors, who elected to remain anonymous, said even though the judgment has brought some relief, she hopes that the remaining suspects would be apprehended, to ease her trauma.
