An Abuja high court sitting in Gudu has sentenced Kenneth Duke, a bishop of a popular congregation, to 20 years in jail for raping a 12-year-old girl.
The 52-year-old convict, an indigene of Cross River state, committed the offence on March 6, 2023, at his residence behind Dantata Construction Company in the Dakwa area of Abuja.
The victim was reportedly brought from Lagos to Abuja on March 5, 2023, to live with Duke and his family.
She was raped the next day after the bishop, a father of five, sent his children on an errand.
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The victim was said to have been given some arithmetic work to solve while she was alone with the bishop before he violently raped her on a chair.
Adebiyi Osolo, the presiding judge, ruled that the bishop committed an offence punishable under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) arraigned him in court on November 2, 2023, for a two-count charge of rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological abuse to the victim.
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Binta Bello, director-general of NAPTIP, in a statement on Thursday, commended the court for delivering the judgement, noting that it will serve as a deterrent to others.
“I want to sincerely thank the judiciary for this judgement. It will certainly serve as a deterrent to other people,” the statement reads.
“Like 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.
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“I am relieved that the judiciary has served the convict the commensurate dose of punishment for his action. This is a warning to others.”
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