A Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced a pastor, Ubong Etim, to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, whom he falsely accused of witchcraft.

Delivering the judgment at High Court No. 11 on Monday, July 20, 2026, Justice Blessing Egwu convicted Etim of murder, ruling that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to a report by premiumtimesng.com on July 22, 2026, the conviction was publicly confirmed in a statement by legal practitioner James Ibor, principal counsel and co-founder of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), an organization that supported the prosecution.

The tragic incident occurred on February 15, 2025, when Deborah, who lived with Down syndrome, was killed following false allegations of witchcraft.

Her murder sparked widespread outrage among child rights advocates and groups campaigning against harmful cultural practices and violence targeting children with disabilities.

Welcoming the verdict, the BRCI described the ruling as a landmark victory in the ongoing fight to end witchcraft branding and child abuse across Nigeria.

"Deborah’s tragic death exposed the devastating consequences of witchcraft branding, a harmful practice that continues to endanger the lives of children, particularly children living with disabilities," Ibor stated on Facebook, adding that the judgment signals that such violence will no longer go unpunished.

"This judgment is not only justice for Deborah; it is also a significant milestone in the ongoing fight to end witchcraft branding and other harmful practices against children. It reinforces the fundamental principle that every child has the right to life, dignity, and protection," he noted.

The BRCI commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice under Attorney General Ededem Ani and the judiciary for their diligent handling of the investigation and trial.

Special praise was extended to Director of Public Prosecutions Okoi Ukam, prosecutors Rajunor Tom and Patrick Usang, as well as Dr David Ushie of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for their key roles in securing the conviction.

The organization also recognized partner groups, including Women Arise, Safe Child Africa, Project Alert, and Etinosa Yvonne, for providing continuous financial and psychosocial support to Deborah’s surviving mother and siblings throughout the trial.