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A High Court of Cross River State, presided over by Justice Blessing Egwu, has sentenced Okon Ekpo Effiong to death for crimes including armed robbery, rape, and aggravated assault.
Effiong, 33, was found guilty of participating alongside four others in a violent attack in which a woman and two teenage girls were sexually assaulted following an armed robbery. The incident occurred on April 27, 2024, along Mount Zion Street in Calabar South Local Government Area, where valuables were also stolen from the victims.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Egwu ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading the court to impose the death penalty on the convict.
Effiong and one of his accomplices were arrested after the incident. However, the accomplice later died in custody, while three other suspects linked to the crime are still at large.
Reacting to the judgment, the Director of Public Prosecution in Cross River State, Okoi Ukam Esq, described the verdict as a welcome development that would serve as a strong deterrent to similar crimes. Speaking to Cross River Watch, he said the outcome was the result of teamwork and a renewed commitment by the state to treat serious criminal cases with the urgency they deserve.
“Deterrence has always been the key message in how we handle cases,” Ukam said, noting that the current administration no longer treats such matters lightly.
He also credited the successful prosecution, led by Joseph Akpajung Esq, to the leadership of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ededem Ani Esq, whom he praised for standing firm against pressure to withdraw sensitive cases.
“The Attorney General made it clear that once prosecutors receive a brief, they must research thoroughly and work diligently on it. I commend his leadership and the commitment of the entire team,” Ukam added.
The Director of Public Prosecution further commended the Cross River State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua, as well as the police gender unit, for their role in ensuring a successful investigation and prosecution.
According to him, thorough investigations were crucial to securing the conviction, especially given the aggravated nature of the crime.
Also commenting on the judgment, Principal Counsel of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, James Ibor Esq, explained that the court acted within established sentencing guidelines despite ongoing campaigns against the death penalty.
He noted that the crime went beyond armed robbery, citing the severe physical and psychological harm inflicted on the victims. Ibor explained that the aggravated circumstances, including the sexual assault of minors and the continued abuse of the adult victim, weighed heavily in the court’s decision.
“The maximum punishment for armed robbery under the law is death, and the additional harm suffered by the victims made the case even more severe,” he said.
During sentencing, the convict expressed regret over his actions and described the punishment as excessive. However, the law grants him the right to appeal the judgment up to the Supreme Court.
His counsel, Bassey Otop Esq, from the Centre for Citizens’ Rights and the Office of the Public Defender, confirmed that an appeal would be filed.
One of the victims, whose identity was withheld for protection, said the trauma from the incident still lingers but expressed some relief knowing that justice had been served.
She praised the prosecution team for their professionalism, noting that they carried out their duties diligently without demanding anything from her.
“I am grateful to everyone who ensured that justice was done,” she said. “I only hope the remaining suspects are arrested and brought to justice as well.”
