FG hands over workers accused of defiling 13-year-old over for prosecution

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports has handed over two members of staff, Salisu Sabiu, and Ibrahim Yola, over to law enforcement agencies for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in the Dutse area of Abuja.

The Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, stated this on Saturday while saying she could not confirm whether the ministry had received a formal report from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons which arrested the suspects.

It had been reported on Thursday that the two workers were arrested by NAPTIP operatives, following a tip-off by a resident who learnt of the act. Also, the two Federal Government workers confessed to the crime and would be charged to court and prosecuted under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.

The NAPTIP Director-General, Julie Okah-Donli, said the agency would ensure that justice was served in the matter “through diligent prosecution and sending the suspects to jail.”

Ikem-Anibeze, the SA to Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, said, “This is a criminal matter that is to be handled by the national law enforcement agencies. The ministry will only note the report. I have yet confirmed if a formal report has been submitted in the ministry.”

Also speaking, the NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, Stella Nezan, said on Saturday that investigations were still ongoing and the suspects, although granted bail, had been asked to report daily to the agency.

She said, “We will ensure diligent prosecution of the matter. As it is, we have opened up full investigations and the DG has directed that investigations must be thorough. In the course of the investigations, if there is a need to involve the police, we will involve them.

“As soon as we are charging them to court, we will let the public know. The suspects have been granted bail in line with the stipulated time when they could be detained, but they are asked to report daily.”

When asked if NAPTIP had officially notified the ministry, she said, “Investigations have just commenced and it is part of the procedures that we will notify the ministry at the appropriate time.”