A Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja on Thursday heard how a step-father, Adewunmi Ajayi, reportedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with his underage stepdaughter.
The unlawful sexual assault resulted in multiple pregnancies and abortions.
An Investigating Police Officer, Aderinto Foluke, made this known on Thursday while giving evidence before Justice Abiola Soladoye.
The IPO with AP No. 287997 attached to the Human Rights Unit of the Nigeria Police testified in the ongoing trial of a couple, Mr. Adewunmi, who is married to the survivor’s mother, Idowu Ajayi.
Informing the court about the outcome of the police investigation into the alleged sexual assault, the inspector said, “We concluded that Mr. Adewunmi has been sleeping with the survivors since 2019.”
The prosecution witness, led by State Prosecution Counsel Abibat Ogunwemimo, told the court that the incident was reported to the Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos Island, by a teacher who came with a 15-year-old survivor and a referral letter from Alausa.
She further stated that the survivor’s stepfather had been having carnal knowledge with the minor, and in the process, the survivor had two pregnancies, which her mother aborted.
She claimed the survivor also told them she was pregnant by her stepfather for the third time.
She said the survivor said she was afraid, so she confided in her teacher because of her mother, who she claimed would abort the pregnancy again.
The IPO said trouble started for the couple in 2021 when they were arrested by the police.
Following the arrest of the first defendant, Ajayi, his wife, Mrs Idowu Ajayi, the second defendant, went to the police, where they wrote statements.
The prosecution witness equally said, “The survivor also said she did not notice that her stepfather used to put drugs in her tea until the day her sister saw leftover particles in the cup.”
The IPO said the survivor complained to her grandmother, who, in turn, talked to her mother, but that the mother denied it when she was told and took her daughter to the hospital when she complained of stomach pain.
“The girl said she wanted to further her education, that is why she reported to her teacher. We gave her a referral paper, and when the result came, she was pregnant. We found out that the mother had taken her for abortion two times.”
Under cross-examination by the Defence Counsel Emmanuel Uwadoka, the IPO said she investigated the matter.
She, however, said she didn’t visit the crime scene or the hospital.
She maintained that the survivor told the police that something was put in her tea.
She also claimed she spoke with the survivor’s grandmother over the phone during her investigation.
Two statements, a medical referral letter, and a medical result were admitted as exhibits by the court.
Justice Soladoye adjourned the matter till May 28 for a continuation of the trial.
The Conclave
