Honorable Justice Blessing Egwu has sentenced 47-year-old Ita Okon to life imprisonment for defiling an 8-year-old girl.
Okon was convicted by the Family Court 2 in Calabar yesterday, following a guilty verdict.
In addition to the life sentence, the court also ordered Okon to pay one million Naira in compensation.
Justice Egwu emphasized that the sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to others who may consider committing similar crimes. She urged parents and guardians to protect their children from exposure to individuals with criminal intent.
Barrister James Ibor, Principal Counsel of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), whose NGO facilitated the conviction, praised the ruling as a significant victory in the fight to end violence against women.