School Proprietor Bags 10 Year Jail for Sexual Abuse on Minor

Uyo - The High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, has sentenced one Bassey Okon Effiong, a school proprietor to ten years in jail for repeatedly having carnal knowledge of a minor.

In a judgment delivered Wednesday on Charge No: HU/66C/2025: THE STATE VS BASSEY OKON EFFIONG, Justice Ekpo Edet Ntekim convicted the Defendant, proprietor of God's Excellent Academy, Mbiabong, Ikot Essien in Uyo Local Government Area (LGA) for the offense of rape.

On facts of the case, Prosecuting Counsel Ruth Mfon, Chief State Counsel, established that the Defendant, Bassey Okon Effiong, in 2018 repeatedly had "unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim who was eight (8) years old at the time."

The Prosecution told the Court, "Defendant who was the school proprietor of God's Excellent Academy where the victim was enrolled at the time, used his position to abuse, threaten and intimidate the victim, that if she reports the abuse to anyone, he will fail her and she’ll repeat class. 

"This abuse continued till 2022. In 2024, during a family meeting, she (Victim) was finally able to disclose her ordeal in the hands of the Defendant to her parents, who then reported the matter to FEYREP.

"FEYREP ensured the matter was reported to the police and the victim was taken for proper medical examination at the Akwa Ibom State Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Uyo."

The court also heard that the Sexual and Gender Based Violence Department, Ministry of Justice in the state, petitioned the Defendant to the Police and he was arrested and charged for the offence of rape.

In the judgement delivered Wednesday, Hon Justice Ntekim convicted the Defendant and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.