As violence against women continues to be a global pandemic, the international community is celebrating “International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women” today the 25th day of November, 2015. Coincidentally, a Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar and presided over by the Hon. Justice Elias Abuo has about 6hours ago, convicted one Okem Benjamin for the offence of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The convict (Okem Benjamin) was on trial for the rape one Miss X who was a child of just 12 years old as at the time of the inglorious incident. In his judgment which was incisive and coloured with great erudition, Justice Abuo also lambasted the guardian of the innocent victim for exposing the girl to the porous environment which the convict took to his advantage.
The case was reported to Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, a leading and famous human rights organization in Calabar on the 11th day of February, 2013. The organization dutifully documented the case, supported the victim, pressed for criminal charges on the accused and meticulously watched the complainant’s brief throughout the prosecution of the case in court. Trial initially commenced at the Family Court Division of the High Court in Calabar, however due to the problems presently bedeviling the Family Courts in Cross River State, the case was subsequently transferred to the regular High Court in Suit No. HC/16C/2014 (The State V Okem Benjamin) where judgment was eventually delivered today 25th November, 2015.
Basic Rights Counsel Initiative is a not-for-profit making organization based in Calabar, Cross River State and is committed to the protection and promotion of the rights of children and indigent women.
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