An Akwa Ibom resident identified as Henry Edet Unung has been handed a one month prison sentence by an Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, for neglecting his children. 

Ruling on a lawsuit filed by Unung's wife and mother of his three children, Justice Ntong Ntong ordered the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police to arrest and detain him for one month at the Uyo Correctional Centre for refusing to take care of his children.

Ntong also noted that the respondent deliberately refused to obey the Court order and decision of Justice Iboro Ukpanah of November 9, 2018, mandating him to pay N20,000 monthly allowance in addition to a bag of rice, beans, garri and other food items for his children’s upkeep.

The judge said; 

“Court made an order that the respondent should pay N20,000 monthly as maintenance allowance, including a bag of rice, beans, garri and other food items for his own children, in addition to payment of their school fees, medical needs, clothing and other necessaries.

“You bluntly refused to abide by the Court order, which amounts to contemptuous and a wanton disrespect and affront to the majesty of the Court.”