The Calabar Division of the High Court in Cross River State has sentenced one Matthew Sunday Uyangha, to 25 years in prisonment for abduction and rape of a 13year old girl in Calabar.
Justice Blessing Egwu, on Thursday said Mr. Uyangha had in July 2022, abducted a 13-Year-old orphan (name withheld) from Akpabuyo, drugged her, and took her to somewhere in Esuk Utan in Calabar where he raped her several times over the course of two months before he was apprehended.
Egwu, held that the evidence against Mr. Uyangha was overwhelming and found him guilty of the two charges preferred against him bordering on abduction and rape.
CrossRiverWatch reports that the lead Counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) James Ibor Esq, while reacting to the judgment, thanked the State and the Judiciary for their determination to keep children safe.
He was reported to have said that the judgment showed that there is no place for rapists in Cross River and that the State is willing to uphold the true spirit of the Child Rights Law among others.
Ibor, also commended the Ministry of Justice, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for their roles in ensuring justice was done and seen to be done.
A member of the prosecution team, Rajunor Tom, Esq expressed joy over the judgment thanking the judiciary and the Judge for her courage in ensuring justice is done.
Another lawyer Jacob Oban Esq, who handled the brief of NAPTIP said he was happy about the outcome of the case.