● NAPTIP busts baby factory, rescues nine pregnant girls in Abuja
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Gudu, presided over by Hon. Justice Adebiyi Osolo, has sentenced a prominent Church Founder and Bishop of a popular congregation in Abuja, Bishop Kenneth Duke, to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine, for rape.
The 52-year-old convict, an indigene of Cross River State, was dragged through Court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), for raping a 12-year-old girl (name withheld), the daughter of his 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 a 2-count charge for offence of rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological abuse on the victim.
The offence stated that the convict who lives behind Dantata Construction Company, Dakwa, Abuja, on 6th March 2023, penetrated the private part of the victim (name withheld) … without the consent of the victim, thereby committing an offence punishable under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
Investigation showed 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 5th March 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, 6th March 2023, the convict, father of five Children, sent his children on an errand, and being alone with the victim at home about 10 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.
In the judgement, the randy clergy was found guilty of a one-count charge of rape and was sentenced accordingly without an option of fine.
The development came on the heels of the rescue of nine pregnant girls by the operatives of NAPTIP at a suspected baby factory located inside one of the sprawling estates in Ushafa area of Abuja.
The victims were locked up in a rented apartment inside the estate by a yet-to-be-identified suspected trafficking agent after recruiting them through an online platform.
The raid on the facility by operatives of NAPTIP followed a tip-off by a concerned citizen who noticed the unusual situation and movement around the area.
Speaking on the conviction, Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, expressed gratitude to the judiciary for the landmark judgement, saying that it would 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. 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.
“How, can you imagine a 52 years 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 dose of punishment for his action. This is a warning to others”, the Director General stated.
● By Vincent Adekoye, National Press Officer, NAPTIP.
