A 41-year-old man, Endurance Sandy, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, for the rape of an 11-year-old girl. Justice Blessings Egwu of the Family Court delivered the judgment on Tuesday, bringing closure to a case that had been ongoing since 2021.
The conviction was announced by human rights lawyer James Ibor, who is also co-founder of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI). Ibor praised the efforts of all individuals and agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution, which ultimately led to the successful conviction of the perpetrator.
According to Ibor, the convict and the young survivor were residents of the same neighborhood but had no prior relationship or family connection. The tragic incident occurred when the victim was sent on an errand and encountered Sandy, who asked her to purchase an item for him.
Ibor explained that after the girl agreed to help with the purchase, Sandy offered her a drink. The victim later regained consciousness in the early hours of the following morning, finding herself inside the convict's home. She also discovered that she had been sexually assaulted while under the influence of the substance given to her.
When the victim failed to return home, her worried parents began searching for her. They eventually sought assistance from soldiers stationed at a military post near their community, which helped initiate the investigation that led to Sandy's arrest and subsequent prosecution.
The life sentence handed down by Justice Egwu represents a significant milestone in the fight against sexual violence in Cross River State. Ibor expressed hope that this judgment would serve as a strong deterrent to others who might contemplate similar heinous acts against children.
Elijah Adeyemi
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