NAPTIP secures landmark conviction under VAPP Act as court delivers life sentences without option of fine for prolonged sexual abuse.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has sentenced two security guards, James Sule (30) and Adamu Yau (25), to life imprisonment for the prolonged sexual abuse of a minor.

The conviction, secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), was delivered by Justice S.M. Mayana, who ruled that both men be imprisoned for life without the option of a fine.

According to a statement issued in Abuja by NAPTIP’s Press and Public Relations Officer, Vincent Adekoye, the offenders were prosecuted under the provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act.

The court heard that the abuse began in 2016 when the victim was six years old and continued over several years before it was eventually reported. Investigations revealed that one of the convicts, who worked as a security guard for the family, exploited his access to the home to commit the crime and later involved another guard in the acts.

The case came to light after the victim’s parents noticed significant changes in her behaviour and sought help. The matter was first reported to the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) before being transferred to NAPTIP, which led to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects. A third suspect linked to the case remains at large.

The suspects were formally charged in February 2023 and arraigned later that year. They pleaded not guilty, but the prosecution presented multiple witnesses and evidence that led to their conviction.

NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu-Bello, described the judgment as a strong warning to perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence, stressing that the agency remains committed to enforcing the VAPP Act and ensuring justice for victims.

She noted that the ruling reflects a growing determination to hold offenders accountable and strengthen protections for vulnerable persons across the country.