A 39 year-old man, Mr. Ezekiel Udoh has been remanded at the Kirikiri Prison for forcefully having carnal knowledge, and impregnating a 12 year old girl(names withheld).
The suspect who lives around Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, and was walking freely due to the helpless situation of the girl’s guardian in their quest for justice soon had his freedom cut short.
It was gathered that, a non-profit organization, Inclusive Social Welfare and Empowerment Foundation was contacted, and the NGO immediately stepped into the issue with the quick intervention of officers from the Festac Police Station (SFU unit) the suspect was arrested and charged to court.
The victim, an underaged who was forced into emergency motherhood by a supposed fatherly figure and neighbor has also been receiving medical attention courtesy of the NGO.
Udoh was arraigned on the count of defilement of a 12-year-old child (names withheld ) at the Ajegunle Magistrate Court, Apapa on 2/10/2020. The charges were read to him and he pleaded guilty.
He has been remanded until the next adjourned date of October 8, 2020.
The complainant’s lawyer, Barr. Josephine Odikpo, a Principal Partner of the law firm, Odikpo Okpe & Associates, applied to the court for an order to protect the identity of the victim in accordance with the provisions of the Child Rights Law of Lagos state and the family Court Rules, and was granted.
Our correspondent in a phone call to Mrs. Pat Isiorho-Eleto, the Chief Executive of Inclusive Social Welfare and Empowerment Foundation, she said she cannot speak on the matter for now because the case is still in the court of law.
Eleto however use the medium to call on all relevant authorities and the government to assist to get justice for rape victims, so as to also serve as deterrent to sexual offenders, while protecting the rights of girl child in the society.
“Our foundation has been advocating the protection of young girls because many of them have had their innocence snatched from them and their dreams shattered by sex offenders.
“We also empower the less privileged, the aged and vulnerable ones in the society but the issue of domestic violence and sexual assaults like rape of minors have become a scourge that has continued to plague the society, and has become a cancer that we will continue to fight against”, she said.
