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Supreme court affirms 12-year jail term for man who r@ped his 15-year-old house help in Abuja

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the 12-year-jail term passed on one Dauda Sani Haladu

for r@ping his 15-year-old domestic help in Abuja.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) disclosed this in a statement on Monday, May 11, 2026, describing it as a “landmark victory in the fight against S@xual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV),”

An FCT High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Hon Justice M.A. Nasir had convicted and sentenced Haladu in 2021.

“On May 8, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a final judgment affirming the conviction and 12-year prison sentence of a 42-year-old man for the r@pe of his 15-year-old domestic help,” the statement read.

“The incident occurred on March 11, 2017, when the convict took advantage of his wife and children’s absence to forcefully assault the victim, Judith James (name changed to protect her identity), at their residence.

“Following the assault, the convict threatened the victim’s life to ensure her silence.

“Despite the intimidation, the victim eventually confided in a school official, leading to the Agency’s intervention and the subsequent arraignment of the defendant on November 11, 2017, under Section 1(2) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPPA).

“This final judgment serves as a stern reminder that the law is patient but persistent. NAPTIP remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of violence, especially against vulnerable domestic workers and children, face the full weight of justice.”

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to pay their taxes as this remain essential for financing infrastructure, healthcare, education and welfare programmes targeted at vulnerable citizens.

The President spoke on Friday, May 15, at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali.

He said many citizens demand better roads, hospitals and social amenities but fail to pay their taxes.

“Nobody wants to pay taxes. Yet everyone expects development. You want good roads and well-equipped hospitals, but you don’t want to contribute through taxes. The question is: how do we fund development and secure the future of our children? A citizen who pays tax is a citizen. If you are not paying taxes and not exempted, then you are not fulfilling your obligation,” he said.

The president also defended the economic reforms introduced by his administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, describing them as difficult but necessary measures aimed at stabilising the economy.

According to him, Nigeria could no longer sustain subsidy payments and policies that encouraged corruption and smuggling.

“It was necessary to reset and reform the economy. We were spending future generations’ resources before they were born,” Tinubu said.

Reflecting on the state of the economy before the reforms, the president said several states struggled to pay salaries despite Nigeria’s oil wealth.

“You are producing oil, spending heavily on fuel subsidy, yet your refineries are not working. That trend was unsustainable,” he noted.


Tinubu acknowledged that the reforms initially triggered hardship and criticism but said early signs indicated that the policies were “beginning to produce positive outcomes.”

He stated that the naira had become more stable and predictable, “making it easier for businesses and government institutions to plan effectively.”

The president further explained that savings from the reforms had enabled the government to expand intervention programmes for students and vulnerable households through educational support and direct assistance initiatives