Man Gets Life Sentence for Raping 10-Year-Old Girl

A Family Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a 38-year-old man to life in prison for raping a 10-year-old girl.

Justice Blessing Egwu of Family Court 2 gave the judgement on Tuesday. She based her decision on Section 33 of the Cross River State Child Rights Law, 2023.

The convict, Nsikak Okon, was a customer of the survivor’s mother. This was shared by James Ibor, a lawyer and co-founder of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

Mr Ibor told PREMIUM TIMES that the crime happened on 12 July 2025 at Technical College Road, Ikot Effanga, Mile 8, Calabar. He explained that the survivor’s mother noticed the child was bleeding. After asking questions, she reached out to BRCI for help.

The rights group then assisted the survivor and her family as they sought justice. In his Facebook post, Mr Ibor thanked the Cross River State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and the state Attorney-General, Ededem Ani, for their involvement in the case.

He also praised the Director of Public Prosecutions, Okoi Ukam, and Joseph Apajung for their hard work in making sure the rapist faced justice. Mr Ibor further commended members of his organization for supporting the survivor and her family during the legal process.

He said helping child survivors of sexual violence goes beyond just getting convictions. He highlighted the need to protect their privacy and provide the necessary support for their recovery.