An Uyo High Court has consented to the terms of settlement in the case of sexual abuse, involving a male student of the Deeper Life High School, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. The judgment was in a suit between Don-Davis Archibong, plaintiff and Registered Trustees of Deeper Christian Life Ministry and eight others, as defendants. Trial judge, Justice Ntong Ntong, described consent judgment as judgment, which provisions and terms are settled by parties, with due effects given to it, by the court. He declared that “a consent judgment is final and cannot be set aside by the court, which gave the judgment.”

Counsel to the plaintiff, C.N. Nweke, Junior, told the court that all the parties have reconciled for the sake of God and the welfare of the plaintiff, who is a minor. On his part, counsel to the defendants and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Taiwo Kupolati, said: “Parties have settled amicably and have signed the terms of settlement dated March 21, 2022. “By the terms of settlement, the criminal charge, which was before Justice Bassey Nkanang of Uyo High Court, has been struck out.” Kupolati hanked Justice Ntong for his concern for the welfare of the child involved in the matter. The lead counsel also commended the judge “for visiting the locus in quo, where he sat with all the parties and resolved the sensitive issue.” Also, one of the defendants and the Principal of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, Mrs. Ndidi Solomon thanked “God for using Justice Ntong to bring the case to a joyful end.” A member of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Nicholas Ekarika, expressed satisfaction for the resolution of the matter. He said the General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuiyi, and other parties were grateful to God and Justice Ntong Ntong for their intervention and seeing to the resolution of the case.