Bishop receives 20-Year sentence for raping minor

An Abuja High Court in Gudu sentenced Kenneth Duke, a Bishop of a well-known congregation, to 20 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl.

The judge delivered the verdict after reviewing the evidence and testimonies presented during the trial.

Duke, 52, from Cross River State, committed the crime on March 6, 2023, at his residence near Dantata Construction Company in the Dakwa area of Abuja.

The victim had arrived in Abuja from Lagos the day before to stay with Duke and his family.

On the day of the assault, Duke sent his five children on an errand.

Left alone with the victim, he forced her to solve some arithmetic problems before violently raping her on a chair.

This brutal act has left the young girl traumatized.

Presiding Judge Adebiyi Osolo ruled that Duke’s actions violated the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) charged him with two counts: rape and intentionally causing emotional and psychological harm to the victim.

Binta Bello, NAPTIP’s director-general, praised the court’s decision in a statement.

She emphasized that this ruling will deter others from committing similar crimes.

“I sincerely thank the judiciary for this judgement,” she stated.

Bello warned that NAPTIP will prosecute anyone who violates laws against human trafficking or violence, regardless of their status.

“Rape is a serious crime that inflicts lasting trauma on victims,” she added, urging everyone to protect children.

She expressed relief that the judiciary imposed appropriate punishment on Duke, serving as a warning to others who might consider similar actions.

The community must unite to combat this heinous crime and safeguard the vulnerable.

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