Cross River court sentences man to death for rape, armed robbery

A High Court of Cross River State sitting in Calabar has sentenced a 33-year-old man, Okon Effiong, to death after finding him guilty of armed robbery, rape and aggravated assault.

Justice Blessing Egwu delivered the judgment on Monday, January 19, 2026, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Effiong was convicted over an attack carried out on April 27, 2024, along Mount Zion Street in Calabar South Local Government Area. During the incident, a woman and two minors were assaulted, while valuables were stolen.

The court held that the offences were aggravated by the circumstances of the attack and the severe harm inflicted on the victims, thereby justifying the maximum penalty prescribed by law.

Effiong was arrested alongside another suspect by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Cross River State Police Command. The accomplice reportedly died in custody, while three other suspects connected to the incident are still at large.

Reacting to the verdict, the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Okoi Ukam, said the conviction reflected the government’s determination to prosecute violent and sexual offences without compromise.

“Deterrence remains central to the handling of cases of this nature. The era of treating such matters lightly is over,” Ukam said.

He attributed the successful prosecution, led by Joseph Akpajung, to the support of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ededem Ani, noting that prosecutors were encouraged to pursue cases diligently despite pressure. Ukam also commended the Cross River State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua, particularly the gender unit, for its investigative efforts.

Also speaking, the Principal Counsel of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), James Ibor, said the sentence was in line with established guidelines, noting that the offences went beyond armed robbery because of the additional harm suffered by the victims.

After the judgment, Effiong expressed remorse and described the sentence as excessive. His counsel, Bassey Otop, of the Centre for Citizens’ Rights and the Office of the Public Defender, said an appeal would be filed.

One of the survivors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that although the trauma remains, the judgment has brought some relief. She also expressed hope that the remaining suspects would be arrested.