A’Ibom Court Gives Consent To Settlement Of Sexual Abuse Case Involving Deeper Life School Boy

A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has consented to the terms of settlement in the case of sexual abuse involving a male student of the Deeper Life High School in Uyo.

In a judgement, the court presided by Justice Ntong Ntong described “a consent judgment as a judgment, which provisions and terms are settled by parties with due effects given to it by the court.”

Justice Ntong held that “a consent judgement is final, and cannot be set aside by the court, which gave the judgment.”

The judgment was in a suit between Don-Davis Archibong, plaintiff, and Registered Trustees of Deeper Christian Life Ministry and eight others, as defendants.

Counsel to the plaintiff, C.N. Nweke Jr, told the court that “all the parties have reconciled for the sake of God and the welfare of the plaintiff, who is a minor.”

On his part, counsel to the defendants, Taiwo Kupolati (SAN), said: “Parties have settled amicably and had signed the terms of settlement on March 21, 2022.”

He said: “By the terms of the settlement, the criminal charge, which was before Justice Bassey Nkanang of Uyo High Court, was struck out.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria thanked Justice Ntong for his concern for the welfare of the child involved in the matter.

The lead counsel also commended the Judge “for visiting the locus in quo, where he sat with all the parties and resolved the sensitive issue.”

Kupolati described Justice Ntong as “an advocate of peace, love and non-violence.”

Also speaking, one of the defendants, Mrs. Ndidi Solomon, who was the principal of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, thanked “God for using Justice Ntong to bring the case to a joyful end.”

A member of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Nicholas Ekarika, expressed satisfaction over the resolution of the matter, saying the General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuiyi, and other parties were grateful to God and Justice Ntong Ntong for their intervention.