Hesiod the ancient Greek poet once said: “The man who does evil to another does evil to himself, and the evil counsel is most evil for him who counsels it.”
Centuries ago, American politician and writer, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) asked: “If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it?
And so when a clergyman who should be pointing men towards the path of righteousness is accused of sexually molesting a child from age 10, people do a double take.
It was pin drop silence at an Akure Magistrates’ Family Court in Ondo state when a 14-year-old secondary school girl told the story of how she had abortions thrice for her 55-year-old school principal and clergyman, Adetunji Obatayo.
Narrating her ordeal, the minor said Obatayo began to have sexual intercourse with her since she was 10 when started living with him.
“Four years ago, my parents released me to live with a pastor due to his desire to train me.
“On my first day in his house, he forcefully had sexual intercourse with me and told me not to tell anyone about it.
“He had impregnated me thrice and he gave me N5,000 to buy some contraceptive drugs to abort the pregnancy after many preventive drugs.
”But during the third pregnancy, he refused to give me money for the drug, and I stole his money to buy the pills.
”Pastor later accused me of stealing his money for my boyfriend which led to the arrest of a boy in our school and I informed my parents about his ordeal.”
The accused person has been remanded to prison custody.
In 2020, the victim’s parents handed her over to Obatayo who doubles as Principal of the school she attends. He had assured her parents that he would help train her in school.
He was arraigned before an Akure Magistrates’ Family Court on three counts charge of defilement, unlawfully prescribing drugs to procure abortion thereby killing an unborn child.
His pleas, were however, not taken.
The offences, according to the charge, contravene Sections 218, 230 and 328 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
Presiding Magistrate, B.A. Alphonso, ordered the defendant to be remanded to the Olokuta Correctional Centre and directed the case file sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.
The trial Magistrate, Alphonso, thereafter, ordered the victim taken in for rehabilitation and adjourned the case to August 29, 2024 for mentioning.
