Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Gudu, has sentenced a prominent Abuja-based clergyman, Bishop Kenneth Duke, to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine for raping a 12-year-old girl.
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) disclosed this in a statement titled ‘An FCT High Court sentenced a 52-year-old bishop to 20 years imprisonment for rape’, issued by its National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
NAPTIP had arraigned the 52-year-old, who hails from Cross River State, for raping the minor (name withheld), a daughter of the bishop’s church member “who was entrusted under the care of his family.
In case no: CR/702/2023 Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Bishop Kenneth Duke, the Defendant was arraigned before Court 16 on 02/11/2023 on two counts for the offence of rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological abuse to the victim.
The convict, who lives behind Dantata Construction Company, Dakwa, Abuja, on March 6, 2023, had carnal knowledge of the victim without consent, committing an offence punishable under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
NAPTIP said its investigation revealed that the victim, an indigene of Ondo State, was living in Lagos before she was brought 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 Expressway, 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 judgment by Justice Adebiyi Osolo, the clergy man was found guilty of one count of rape and was sentenced accordingly without an option of a fine.
Speaking on the conviction, the agency’s Director General, Binta Bello, expressed gratitude to the judiciary for the landmark judgment, saying that it would serve as a deterrent to others.
“I want to thank the judiciary for this judgment. 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,” the DG stated.
“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.”