In a landmark decision, the FCT High Court in Maitama has sentenced Chika Adionye, a 42-year-old businessman based in Abuja, to life imprisonment for the rape of two minors. The victims, both cousins, were 7 and 8 years old at the time of the heinous crime.
Adionye’s arrest in 2016 followed a petition by the mother of one of the victims, leading to the intervention of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The arrest took place at Kara Majiji Community on Airport Road, a suburb of the FCT.
Adionye, taking advantage of his wife’s absence, lured the children into his apartment and violently assaulted them one after the other.
The legal process faced challenges, including the convict jumping bail and fleeing to Imo State. After diligent efforts, NAPTIP operatives tracked him down, leading to his re-arrest.
The trial commenced in 2016, and on the 7th of February 2022, Adionye was arraigned on a 4-count charge. The case suffered delays but finally reached a resolution on the 15th of December 2023 when Adionye was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In delivering the judgment, His Lordship, Justice Samira Bature, stated, “Having considered all evidence adduced by the prosecution in this case, the prosecution having proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and following the sentencing guidelines in line with Section 1 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, I convict you as charged and sentence you to Life Imprisonment.”
The Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri–Azi, praised the judiciary for the decisive punishment.
Prof. Waziri–Azi expressed gratitude to all frontline responders who collaborated with NAPTIP during the case, assuring the public that NAPTIP will persist in its efforts to ensure a violence-free nation.
This conviction marks the second life imprisonment sentence for rape and the fourth rape conviction in 2023.
Adekoye Vincent, the Press Officer at NAPTIP, released this information on the 15th of December, 2023, highlighting the significance of the court’s decision in holding perpetrators accountable for their actions and promoting justice for the victims.
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