*NAPTIP DG hails judiciary for doggedness in ensuring justice served unde
By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
In a historic ruling and landmark judgment in the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, a former Chief Pharmacist of National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Abubakar Mustapha Danraka Ph.D has been sentenced. to life imprisonment for raping a boy. (Sodomy).
The convict, who was also a former Senior Special Adviser (Technical) to the Director of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development was convicted by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice A. Akanbi-Yusuf on Monday 18th September, 2023.
The ruling ends the three-year-old controversies surrounding this celebrated case which had attracted much attention from stakeholders across the country.
This was contained in a statement by Adekoye Vincent Press Officer, NAPTIP, Abuja, made available to journalists today
September 19, 2023.
According to the statement, the convict was arrested on March 27, 2020, for defiling a minor (name withheld) his neighbour, who lived in the same estate with him in Abuja.
Adekoye explained that ,” He lured the victim to his apartment and had anal intercourse with him after stupefying him with a drink.
” The suspect was charged to Court vide a Charge dated 9th August 2021, and was arraigned on 5th April. 2022 where he pleaded “not guilty.
” The Prosecution team from NAPTIP sufficiently proved the charge beyond a reasonable doubt which led to the September 18 2023 judgment”.
Reacting to the judgment, the Director General of NAPTIP, Professor Fatima Waziri – Azi, Ph.D hailed the judiciary for its doggedness in ensuring that justice is served under the VAPP Act.
She said, “I want to specially commend the Judiciary for its sustained collaboration, and support in the implementation of the VAPP/Law in the Country which has culminated in this landmark judgment. This is a victory for us as a country.
“In our bid to make Nigeria a violence–free nation, in collaboration with all our esteemed partners and stakeholders, we will continue to scale our efforts in ensuring more convictions and less impunity” the NAPTIP Director General stated.
This is the third rape conviction and counting secured by NAPTIP in the FCT for the year 2023.
