A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu has sentenced Bishop Kenneth Duke, the founder of a popular church in Abuja, to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine for raping a 12-year-old girl entrusted to his care.
The judgment, delivered by Hon. Justice Adebiyi Osolo, came after Bishop Duke was charged by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in case no. CR/702/2023. The 52-year-old convict, an indigene of Cross River State, faced a two-count charge of rape and intentional emotional and psychological abuse of the victim.
The incident occurred on March 6, 2023, at the convict’s residence behind Dantata Construction Company, Dakwa, Abuja. Investigations revealed that the victim, an indigene of Ondo State, was entrusted to the bishop’s family by her mother, a member of his church. The arrangement was made to allow the bishop’s wife to facilitate skill acquisition training for the young girl.
However, on the day of the incident, Bishop Duke reportedly sent his children on an errand and assaulted the victim while they were alone. He was found guilty of violating the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and sentenced accordingly.
In a separate development, operatives of NAPTIP rescued nine pregnant girls from a suspected baby factory in the Ushafa area of Abuja.
The girls were discovered locked inside a rented apartment within an estate by an unidentified trafficking syndicate. NAPTIP acted on a tip-off from a concerned citizen who noticed unusual movements in the area. Investigations revealed that the victims were recruited through an online platform and were held to deliver their babies, likely intended for illegal sale.
Speaking on the conviction and rescue, NAPTIP’s Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed satisfaction with the judgment and commended the operatives for their successful raid. She stressed the need for collective action against rape and human trafficking.
“I want to sincerely thank the Judiciary for this landmark judgment. It serves as a deterrent to others. Rape is a heinous crime with everlasting psychological effects on victims, and we must rise collectively to say no to it.
“The rescue of these nine pregnant girls is another breakthrough in our fight against human trafficking. NAPTIP will leave no stone unturned to dismantle trafficking syndicates and bring perpetrators to justice,” Bello said.
She also encouraged the public to report suspicious activities, emphasized NAPTIP’s zero tolerance for gender-based violence and trafficking.
