A Cyprus-based Nigerian student, Obasi Chimezirm Princewill, has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting an unnamed victim at her dormitory while videotaping the act. 

Reports stated the incident occurred in Nicosia Hamitköy between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. from March 25 to 26, 2023 when Mr Princewill allegedly entered the victim’s room in a student dormitory before proceeding to strangle her and sexually assaulted her thrice.  

According to newspapers Gundem Kibris, Mr Princewill and the victim were acquaintances when the incident happened. The defendant, who was a law student at the time, was eventually arrested and had been on trial since then. 

Police Sergeant Mustafa Mahan testified during the trial that authorities also received multiple reports of previous rape accusations against Mr Princewill but the defendant reportedly offered N500,000 to buy the silence of the complainants. 

Delivering its judgment at the Nicosia High Criminal Court, a panel consisting of Senior Judge Vedia Berkut Barkin and Judge Gulay Uğur, sentenced Mr Princewill to a 14-year prison term after finding him guilty on all charges. 

“The defendant came to our country as a student. After becoming an illegal immigrant, he continued to reside here and committed such a grave crime,” Ms Barkin said in her judgment. 

The panel stated that the punishment for Mr Princewill’s actions were elevated because of recent law amendments that mandated stricter sentencing over the rise of sexual offences in Cyprus. 

Additionally, Ms Barkin highlighted videotaping the victim without her consent, evading arrest and showing no remorse throughout trial as aggravating factors in the defendant’s case. 

Meanwhile, netizens rxpressed satisfaction with the verdict, while some called for more severe punishment to deter others. 

“Fourteen years is too small. But glad you disgusting people face justice outside Nigeria. Too much enablement in that lawless country,” Instagram user @balonitaloni stated. 

Also, @mightified001 commented, “Very very good, such a misguided person should be dealt with several times, the authorities should arrest all the Nigerian scammers and deport them.”

In his opinion, @spencermcclain attributed criminal activities to the growing anti-Nigerian protests in South Africa and Ghana. 

“This is the reason why South Africans are kicking you guys from their country, and I stand with them and I stand with the Ghanaian as well. You go back to your country Nigeria to be doing all those foolishness,” he said.