A 27-year-old man, Edidiong Cletus Nyojole, has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old girl in Cross River State. The judgement was delivered on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, by Family Court 2 sitting in Calabar, presided over by Justice Blessing Egwu.
Nyojole was found guilty of raping the minor at Uwanse, Calabar, after forcefully dragging her into an uncompleted building alongside an accomplice who remains at large. The court, relying on strong medical evidence, corroborated witness testimonies, and the defendant’s own admission during trial, imposed life imprisonment and ordered the payment of N1,000,000 as compensation to the victim.
The case was prosecuted with the support of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), a non-governmental organisation focused on protecting the rights of children and indigent women. Reacting shortly after the judgement, the organisation said the conviction shows a firm judicial stance against sexual violence.
BRCI commended everyone, including law enforcement authorities and judicial officers, for their roles in ensuring justice was served. “This conviction shows a firm judicial stance against sexual violence and affirms that perpetrators of such crimes will be held fully accountable under the law,” the organisation said. “We acknowledge this outcome as a significant step. Efforts will continue to ensure that all perpetrators of abuse against children are identified and brought to justice. We commend all who made this conviction possible.”
