Abuja, Nigeria – April 8, 2025
A 17-year-old boy has been sentenced to six months of community service for indecently assaulting a 5-year-old girl., the sentence was handed down by the FCT High Court in Zuba, Abuja.
Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya gave the ruling on Monday. She ordered the teenager to clean the premises of Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Nyanya, Abuja, every day for six months.
The judge said the boy should use this time to change his ways. She warned him to avoid crime in the future and behave well.
The prosecutor, Donaldtus Abbah, told the court that the boy worked as an apprentice at a barbershop in Area C, Nyanya. He committed the offence on December 17, 2024.
Abbah said the teenager lured and assaulted the 5-year-old girl. The act goes against Sections 1(1) and 2 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
The boy pleaded guilty. He begged the court for mercy and promised to do better.
The court chose not to send him to prison because of his age and because this was his first offence. Justice Ogbonnaya said the sentence was meant to help him learn and become a better person.
Some people praised the ruling for focusing on reform. Others felt the punishment was too light for such a serious crime.
The court said the teenager will be watched to make sure he obeys the order. If he fails to do so, he could face a harsher punishment.
This case has raised concerns about the safety of children. Many are calling for stronger measures to protect minors from abuse.
