An Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has convicted and sentenced a Christian cleric, Apostle Williams Okon Bassey, to 49 years in prison for the repeated sexual assault and impregnation of his biological daughter.
Justice Bassey delivered the final judgment on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, bringing an end to a legal battle that began with the convict’s arrest over six years ago.
Apostle Bassey, a minister with the Mount Zion Lighthouse Full Gospel Church in Uyo, was apprehended by law enforcement officers at his Ibanga Street residence on November 7, 2019. Following his arrest, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command paraded the cleric alongside four other suspects—identified as Nsikan Udo, Iniobong Moses, Saviour Ukpong, and Festus Etuk—who faced separate allegations of incest and sexual assault.
During the investigation, the teenage victim disclosed that the sexual abuse began when she was just 13 years old. According to her testimony, the prolonged abuse resulted in three separate pregnancies, all of which were subsequently terminated by her mother.
The victim further revealed that her father routinely weaponized her basic needs, demanding sexual favors in exchange for her school fees and welfare maintenance.
While the convict admitted to the crimes, he attempted to alter the timeline during his confession, claiming the incestuous relationship started when his daughter turned 16. Bassey stated that the first incident occurred after he asked the teenager to scratch his back, after which he took her to her mother’s residence in Eket upon discovering she was pregnant.
The cleric confessed that the pattern of abuse persisted over several years, often recurring whenever he had domestic disputes with his spouse. He acknowledged that the cyclical abuse led to a second and third pregnancy, both of which were aborted with the assistance of the victim’s mother.
The court’s decision concludes a highly publicized case of child abuse and incest within the state, with the 49-year jail term to be served without an option of fine.
