A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Osho Adebiyi, sentenced 19‑year‑old teacher Abdullahi Abbass to life imprisonment for raping a 9‑year‑old male pupil.
Abbass, a class teacher at a school in Kwali Area Council, lured the boy after school on 19 March 2025, took him to a nearby street and raped him anally.
The victim, despite being threatened, told his mother, leading to the teacher’s arrest by police and the case being referred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
NAPTIP’s press release, signed by National Press Officer Vincent Adekoye, called the judgment a “major breakthrough” in the fight against sexual violence in Nigeria.
The agency noted that Abbass was charged with two counts of rape and sexual abuse and was convicted on 29 October 2025. The crime is punishable under Section 2 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
NAPTIP Director‑General Binta Bello praised the court’s decision, saying the life sentence delivers a proportionate punishment and will act as a deterrent, and that Abbass’s name will be added to the national sex‑offender register.
She commended the judiciary, the police, and interagency collaboration, emphasizing the agency’s renewed commitment to tackling domestic violence, rape and other sexual abuses.
The case highlights the growing focus on protecting children from abuse and the judiciary’s willingness to impose strong penalties for such crimes.
The conviction is being presented as a landmark judgment that reinforces Nigeria’s efforts to curb sexual violence.
