A Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has sentenced a prominent Abuja-based clergyman, Bishop Kenneth Duke, to 20 years behind bars without an option of fine for rape.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons announced this in a statement on Wednesday by its National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, titled, ‘An FCT High Court sentenced a 52-year-old bishop to 20 years imprisonment for rape.’
NAPTIP had sued the 52-year-old, who hails from Cross River State, for raping a 12-year-old girl (name withheld).
Adekoye stated that the victim is the daughter of the bishop’s church member “who was entrusted under the care of his family.”
In case number. CR/702/2023, Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Bishop Kenneth Duke, the defendant was arraigned before Court 16 on 02/11/2023 on two charges of rape and maliciously causing emotional and psychological torture to the victim.
The crime claimed that on March 6, 2023, the prisoner, who lives behind Dantata Construction Company in Dakwa, Abuja, had carnal knowledge of the victim without consent, which is criminal under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
According to NAPTIP, the victim, who is from Ondo State, was living in Lagos before being moved to Abuja to live with her mother.
The report indicated that on March 5, 2023, “her mother took her to the church located at Dantata Zuba Motorway, and after the service, she was taken to the family house of the bishop, who is also the pastor of the church, so that she could stay with them to enable the bishop’s wife to take her to where she would learn a skill which both families had earlier discussed.
“It was gathered that the following day, March 6, 2023, the convict, father of five children, sent his children on an errand, and being alone with the victim at home at about 10:00 a.m., gave her some mathematics work to solve, and as she was trying to do it, the bishop pounced on her, covered her mouth, and violently raped her on a chair despite her crying and pleading,” NAPTIP said.
In the verdict by Justice Adebiyi Osolo, the cleric was found guilty of one count of rape and was punished accordingly without an option of a fine.
The development happened after NAPTIP operatives rescued nine pregnant girls from a suspected baby factory housed inside one of Abuja’s huge estates in the Ushafa district.
After being recruited via an internet platform, the victims were confined to a rented flat within the estate by an unidentified suspected trafficking agent.
NAPTIP raided the facility after a concerned resident reported the strange condition and movement in the vicinity.
Speaking to the conviction, Binta Bello, the agency’s Director General, thanked the judiciary for the landmark decision, saying it will serve as a deterrent to others.
“I want to thank the judiciary for this judgement. It will certainly serve as a deterrent to other people. As I warned a few weeks ago, NAPTIP will not spare anyone found to have violated any of the laws irrespective of status, either on human trafficking or violence against persons.
“Rape is a serious crime with everlasting psychological effect and lasting trauma on the victim. We must all rise to say no to this heinous crime and ensure the protection of our children.
“How can you imagine a 52-year-old man violating a 12-year-old girl? It is painful, and it is criminal. I am relieved that the judiciary has served the convict the commensurable punishment for his action. This is a warning to others,” the DG stated.
