A High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a 51-year-old pastor, Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim, to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey.
Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11 delivered the judgment after finding the cleric guilty of murder in a case that has drawn widespread attention across the country. The case was filed as State v. Ubong Bassey Etim under suit number HC/54C/2025.
According to reports, Deborah, who lived with Down syndrome, was allegedly accused of witchcraft before she was killed on February 15, 2025. The incident sparked outrage among child rights advocates and human rights organisations who demanded justice for the teenager.
The Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), which supported the prosecution, described the judgment as a major victory for child protection and the fight against witchcraft branding. The group said the verdict reinforces the principle that every child has the right to life, dignity and protection under the law.
Speaking after the ruling, BRCI’s Principal Counsel, James Ibor, said the judgment sends a strong message that violence against children under the guise of witchcraft accusations will not be tolerated.
The organisation noted that children living with disabilities are often among the most vulnerable victims of harmful traditional beliefs and false accusations, which can result in abandonment, abuse and even death.
BRCI also commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other individuals involved in securing the conviction.
The conviction is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts by child rights groups seeking stricter enforcement of laws against child abuse and witchcraft-related violence in Cross River State and across Nigeria.
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