Bishop Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for R@ping Minor

A court has sentenced a bishop to 20 years imprisonment after being found guilty of raping a minor, sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice.

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory has sentenced Bishop Kenneth Duke, a well-known clergyman from Abuja, to 20 years in prison for rape, with no option for a fine.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons disclosed this information through a statement released on Wednesday by its National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye. The release was titled, “FCT High Court Sentences 52-Year-Old Bishop to 20 Years Imprisonment for Rape.”

NAPTIP had brought legal action against the 52-year-old from Cross River State for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl, whose name is being withheld.

Adekoye stated that the victim is the daughter of a church member and had been entrusted to his family’s care by her parents.

In case number CR/702/2023, titled Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Bishop Kenneth Duke, the defendant was brought before Court 16 on November 2nd, 2023, facing two charges: rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological harm to the victim.

The prosecution reported that on March 6, 2023, the convict – residing behind Dantata Construction Company in Dakwa, Abuja – engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with the victim. This act is punishable under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015.

According to NAPTIP’s investigation, the victim, originally from Ondo State, was residing in Lagos before being taken to Abuja to live with her mother.

According to the report, on March 5, 2023, her mother brought her to the church at Dantata Zuba Expressway. After the service, she was taken to the bishop’s family house—where he serves as pastor—to stay with them temporarily. This arrangement allowed for his wife to later take her somewhere she could learn a skill that both families had previously discussed.

According to NAPTIP, it was reported that on March 6, 2023, the convict—a father of five—sent his children out on an errand. Left alone with the victim at around 10:00 a.m., he assigned her some mathematics problems to solve. As she attempted them, he attacked her unexpectedly; covering her mouth and subjecting her to violent rape on a chair despite her cries and pleas for mercy.

In the ruling delivered by Justice Adebiyi Osolo, the clergyman was convicted of a single charge of rape and received a sentence without the possibility of paying a fine.

This development followed the rescue of nine pregnant girls by NAPTIP operatives from a suspected baby factory situated within one of the large estates in Abuja’s Ushafa area.

The victims were trapped in a rented apartment on the estate by an unidentified individual suspected of trafficking, who had recruited them via an online platform.

NAPTIP’s raid on the facility was prompted by a tip-off from a concerned citizen who observed unusual activities and movements in the area.

Discussing the conviction, Binta Bello, the agency’s Director General, expressed appreciation to the judiciary for their groundbreaking judgment. She noted that it would act as a deterrent to others.

I would like to express my gratitude to the judiciary for this judgment, as it will undoubtedly serve as a deterrent to others. As I emphasized a few weeks ago, NAPTIP will take strict action against anyone found violating laws related to human trafficking or violence against individuals, regardless of their status.

Sexual assault is a grave offense that can cause enduring psychological harm and lasting trauma to the survivor. It is imperative for all of us to stand against this atrocious crime and work towards safeguarding our children.

“Can you fathom a 52-year-old man harming a 12-year-old girl? It is both painful and criminal. I am relieved that the judiciary has given the offender an appropriate punishment for his actions. Let this serve as a warning to others,” stated the DG.