A High Court sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has sentenced a 46-year-old man, Imeh Sunday, to life imprisonment for raping his biological daughter
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Blessing Egwu of Family Court 2, who found the defendant guilty of incest and rape.
The prosecution was handled by the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to protecting the rights of children and vulnerable individuals.
In her ruling, Justice Egwu held that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt, citing compelling and credible evidence presented during the trial.
She subsequently imposed the maximum penalty prescribed by law.
Reacting to the verdict, the Principal Counsel of the organisation, James Ibor, commended the survivor for her courage throughout the legal process.
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He also acknowledged the support of the survivor’s guardians, as well as the roles played by the Ministry of Justice, the police, and the judiciary in securing the conviction.
“I commend the survivor, her grandparents, the attorney-general, the commissioner of police, the judiciary, and all those who supported her recovery and pursuit of justice,” he said.
The organisation noted that the conviction marks the fourth rape-related case it has successfully prosecuted in Cross River State within the past four months.
In a related development, the police have reported the arrest of a 28-year-old man in Bauchi State over an alleged sexual assault involving his eight-year-old daughter.
Authorities say such cases underscore the urgent need for continued vigilance, stronger enforcement of child protection laws, and sustained support for survivors of abuse.
