Sodomy: Court of Appeal Acquits Pharmacist Previously Sentenced to Life in Prison for Rape

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has acquitted Abubakar Mustapha Danraka, a pharmacist previously sentenced to life imprisonment for rape by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The appellate court, led by Justice Joseph Oyewole, overturned the lower court’s decision, citing insufficient investigation and lack of credible evidence.

Justice Oyewole, delivering the lead judgment, highlighted several flaws in the prosecution’s case. He pointed out that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and criticized the lower court for relying on inadmissible evidence. The judgment, dated July 15, was in response to the appeal filed by Danraka, marked CA/ABJ/CR/1019/2023.

Danraka, who served as Special Adviser to the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Development (NIPRD), was charged with raping a 12-year-old male neighbor between March 20 and 21, 2020. He was arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on April 5, 2022, and initially found guilty by Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf on September 18, 2023.

The appellate court criticized the admission of the victim’s extrajudicial statement and the failure to investigate Danraka’s alibi. Justice Oyewole also noted that the medical examination of the victim was incomplete as it did not include an examination of the defendant. The court found the evidence insufficient to support the conviction.

Justices Peter Obiorah and Okon Abang concurred with the lead judgment, which ultimately set aside Danraka’s conviction and life sentence, declaring him discharged and acquitted.