COURT SENTENCES TEACHER TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT OVER ASSAULT OF NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY

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By: Sefiu Ajape

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 19-year-old teacher, Abdullahi Abbass, to life imprisonment for raping his nine-year-old pupil — a ruling described by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons as a major victory in the fight against sexual violence.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday by the agency’s National Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP said the judgment was delivered by Justice M. Osho–Adebiyi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

According to the agency, the convict, who worked in a private school in the Kwali Area Council, lured the victim after school hours on March 19, 2025, and raped him through the anus.

“The convict was the class teacher of the victim. On the 19th March 2025, after school hours, he sent another pupil to call the victim from their home. He thereafter took the victim down the street where he lived and raped the male victim through the anus,” the statement read in part.

NAPTIP said the victim later reported the incident to his mother, leading to Abbass’ arrest and prosecution.

He was arraigned on two counts of rape and sexual abuse and was convicted on October 29, 2025, under Section 2 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, which prescribes life imprisonment.

Reacting to the judgment, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, commended the judiciary and stakeholders for their support in securing the conviction.

She said, “This is a landmark judgment that carries the commensurable punishment for the offender. This will serve as a deterrent, and his name shall feature prominently in our Sex Offenders Register.

“I wish to say that the speedy investigation and arraignment of the Convict is a testimony to our renewed commitment and determination to tackle the incidence of domestic violence, rape, and other forms of sexual abuse in the Country.”

Bello also appreciated the Nigerian Police for its collaboration and reaffirmed NAPTIP’s commitment to tackling rape and sexual violence nationwide.

Similarly, on June 19, 2025, a teacher, Pascal Ofomata (34), was convicted and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for defiling his 11-year-old male JSS1 student at St. Christopher’s Junior Seminary, Onitsha.

The case was tried by a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Peace Otti.

Photo Credit: NAPTIP