In a historic and landmark ruling under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Kubwa, Abuja, has sentenced Dr. Abubakar Mustapha Danraka, a former public officer and Chief Pharmacist of the National Hospital, Abuja, to life imprisonment for sodomy.
The ruling, presided over by Hon. Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf, marks a significant development in the implementation of the VAPP Act of 2015 and concludes a three-year-old controversy surrounding the case. Dr. Danraka was also a Senior Special Adviser (Technical) to the Director of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
Dr. Danraka was arrested on March 27th, 2020, for the rape (sodomy) of a minor, whose identity has been withheld, residing in the same estate as him in Abuja. He had lured the victim to his apartment and sexually assaulted him after drugging him.
The prosecution team from the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) presented substantial evidence, leading to the conviction and sentencing on September 18, 2023. Dr. Danraka had pleaded “not guilty” during his arraignment on April 5, 2022.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, commended the judiciary for its unwavering commitment to justice under the VAPP Act. She praised the collaboration and support of all stakeholders in the implementation of the law and expressed the agency’s determination to continue its efforts in achieving more convictions and reducing impunity.
This marks the third rape conviction secured by NAPTIP in the Federal Capital Territory in 2023.
