Akwa Ibom Monarch Remanded Over Rape Of 8-year-old

A septuagenarian village head of Atiamkpat Ubium in Nsit Ubium local government area, Akwa Ibom State, will spend 21 days in prison pending the court’s decision on his fate following his prosecution on charges of having illicit carnal knowledge of a small girl, young enough to be his great-grandchild.

The Akwa Ibom Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital, ordered that Chief Samuel James Ekpek, be remanded at the Uyo Medium Custodial Centre pending the court’s ruling on July 10, 2025.

The presiding Magistrate, Ukoima, handed down the order following an application brought by the prosecution team led by Barr Aniekanabasi Johnson, who held brief for Barr Margaret Ekere.

The defendant, Chief Ekpek, LEADERSHIP learnt, is standing trial for allegedly defiling an 8 -year -old girl (name withheld for being a minor) in April 2024.

The court also ordered that the case file be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) “for formal charge.”

The village head, said to be over 70 years old, will remain in the Correctional Centre for 21 days until the July 10 adjourned date.

Meanwhile, the Federation of International Women Advocates (FIDA) has since stepped into the matter and relocated the victim to their facility in Ikot Ekpene LGA for treatment and rehabilitation.