A High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced a 46-year-old man, Imeh Sunday, to life imprisonment for raping his daughter.
The prosecution of the case was led by the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, a non-governmental organisation focused on protecting the rights of children and vulnerable persons. The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Blessing Egwu of the Family Court 2 in Cross River State, followed the convict’s trial on charges bordering on incestuous rape.
The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, relying on what it described as overwhelming evidence against the defendant. Justice Egwu subsequently handed down the maximum sentence prescribed by law.
Reacting to the judgment, the Principal Counsel of the organisation, James Ibor, commended the survivor for her courage and resilience throughout the trial. He also praised the roles played by the survivor’s guardians, the state Ministry of Justice, and the police in securing the conviction.
“I wish to commend the survivor, her grandparents, the Honourable Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, the judiciary, as well as the staff and volunteers of BRCI for their commitment and support toward the survivor and her recovery,” he said.
The group disclosed that the latest conviction brings to four the number of rape-related convictions it has secured in the state within the past four months.
