A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a 19-year-old school teacher, Abdullahi Abbass, to life imprisonment for raping a 9-year-old pupil in Kwali.
The judgment, delivered by Justice M. Osho-Adebiyi, followed Abbass’s conviction on two counts of rape and sexual abuse under Section 2 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
According to the case details, the convict, who was the victim’s class teacher, lured the boy from home on March 19, 2025, and sexually assaulted him through the anus. Despite threats from the teacher, the victim reported the incident to his mother, leading to the suspect’s arrest by the police and subsequent transfer to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
Delivering judgment, Justice Osho-Adebiyi sentenced Abbass to life imprisonment without an option of fine, described the offence as “heinous and deserving of the maximum penalty.”
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, commended the judiciary for what she called a “landmark judgment”, praised the collaboration between the Police and NAPTIP that ensured a swift investigation and diligent prosecution.
“This judgment carries a commensurate punishment for the offender and will serve as a deterrent to others,” Bello stated. “His name will be entered into the Sex Offenders Register as part of our zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence.”
The NAPTIP boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable persons from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation. She noted that the agency had recently strengthened its Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Department through capacity building to enhance investigation and prosecution of such crimes.
Bello further lauded the judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force for their effective collaboration in achieving justice for the victim.
