Teenage teacher gets life sentence for raping nine-year-old in Abuja
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja, has sentenced a 19-year-old teacher, Abdullahi Abbass, to life imprisonment for raping his nine-year-old pupil, a judgment the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has described as a significant victory in the fight against sexual violence.
The conviction was delivered by Justice M. Osho-Adebiyi of the FCT High Court, according to a statement issued on Saturday by Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP’s National Press Officer.
According to the agency, Abbass, who worked in a private school in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT, lured the young boy after school hours on March 19, 2025, and raped him through the anus.
“The convict was the class teacher of the victim. On March 19, 2025, after school hours, he sent another pupil to call the victim from home, took him to a nearby street, and raped him through the anus,” the statement read in part.
The incident came to light after the victim confided in his mother, who immediately reported the matter to the authorities, leading to Abbass’s arrest and prosecution.
The teacher was arraigned on two counts bordering on rape and sexual abuse. Following a full trial, he was found guilty on October 29, 2025, under Section 2 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, which prescribes life imprisonment for the offence.
Reacting to the judgment, NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, commended the judiciary and law enforcement agencies for their swift handling of the case.
“This is a landmark judgment that delivers the punishment commensurate with the crime. It will serve as a deterrent to others, and the convict’s name will be included in the national Sex Offenders Register,” Bello stated.
She also praised the Nigeria Police Force for its collaboration in the investigation and prosecution, reaffirming NAPTIP’s commitment to intensifying efforts against rape, domestic violence, and all forms of sexual abuse across the country.