Nigeria: Court Sentences Rapist to Life Imprisonment

What the report says

A Family Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a 38-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a 10-year-old girl, according to Premium Times, which said the judgment was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Blessing Egwu of Family Court 2. The court relied on Section 33 of the Cross River State Child Rights Law, 2023. The case was reported publicly by lawyer and child-rights advocate James Ibor, who identified the convict as Nsikak Okon.

Premium Times reported that the alleged assault took place on 12 July 2025 at Technical College Road, Ikot Effanga, Mile 8, Calabar. Ibor said the child’s mother noticed bleeding and later sought help from the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), which supported the family through the legal process. He also praised the police, the state attorney-general, and prosecutors for handling the case.

The ruling adds to a recent pattern of severe sentences in Cross River involving sexual offences. Premium Times noted that several courts in the state have handed down life terms in recent months in cases involving child rape and incest. Beyond the individual conviction, the case highlights ongoing concerns about child protection, survivor support, and the role of legal and civil-society groups in pushing sexual-violence cases through the courts.