A Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced a 33-year-old man, Okon Effiong, to death for armed robbery, rape and aggravated assault.
Justice Blessing Egwu delivered the judgment on Monday, January 19, 2026, after finding that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Effiong was convicted for his role in an armed robbery attack carried out on April 27, 2024, along Mount Zion Street in Calabar South Local Government Area, during which a woman and two minors were sexually assaulted, and valuables were carted away.
The court held that the offences were aggravated by the circumstances surrounding the attack and the harm inflicted on the victims, warranting the maximum punishment 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 later died in custody, while three other suspects involved in the incident are said to be at large.
Reacting to the judgment, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state, Okoi Ukam, said the conviction underscored the government’s resolve 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 leadership 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, led by 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 court acted in line with established sentencing guidelines, noting that the offences went beyond armed robbery due to the additional harm suffered by the victims.
Following the judgment, Effiong expressed remorse and described the sentence as excessive. His counsel, Bassey Otop, from 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 commended the prosecution team for its diligence and expressed hope that the remaining suspects would be apprehended.
