Cross River: Man, 25, bags life imprisonment for raping 8-year-old girl

• Justice Blessing Egwu, who delivered the judgement, bemoaned the prevalence of child defilement in the society.

One Aniedi Mfon has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping an 8-year-old girl in Cross River State. 

25-year-old Mfon was convicted and sentenced by the Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar on Tuesday, 7th May 2024.

Justice Blessing Egwu, who delivered the judgement, bemoaned the prevalence of child defilement in the society.

Justice Egwu said the convict has no conscience and she awarded a fine of N1 million be paid to the survivor, who was not named.

Sources confirmed that Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Ededem Ani; Principal Counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), Barr. James Ibor; and the Prosecutor, Patience Emmanuel Akpama facilitated the prosecution.

Reacting, Barr. James Ibor said the father of the survivor was intimidated and offered bribes to withdraw the case but he resisted.

“I thank the Commissioner of Police and his team, Attorney General Ededem Ani and his team, the staff of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, the survivor and her father who resisted intimidation and bribes to back out.”