Trouble started in the home
of Mrs. Grace Adebiyi (not real name) in Akowonjo area of Lagos when she
noticed a strange discharge from the private part of her eight-year-old
daughter, as she slept on the night of Sunday April 12, 2015.
of Mrs. Grace Adebiyi (not real name) in Akowonjo area of Lagos when she
noticed a strange discharge from the private part of her eight-year-old
daughter, as she slept on the night of Sunday April 12, 2015.
“I would not have been
worried if not because that I had noticed she was walking awkwardly when we
were going to church earlier in the day. But when I asked what was wrong with
her, she said nothing,” the woman said.
worried if not because that I had noticed she was walking awkwardly when we
were going to church earlier in the day. But when I asked what was wrong with
her, she said nothing,” the woman said.
But that night, as Comfort
(not real name) slept, her mother decided to investigate what was wrong.
(not real name) slept, her mother decided to investigate what was wrong.
“It was then I noticed my
daughter’s private part was chafed. I was worried, what could have happened to
her?”Adebiyi said.
daughter’s private part was chafed. I was worried, what could have happened to
her?”Adebiyi said.
The worried mother roused
her daughter and asked her what had been happening to her but the girl told her
nothing happened.
her daughter and asked her what had been happening to her but the girl told her
nothing happened.
Adebiyi said, “I told her to
go back to sleep but my mind was not at rest. The following morning. I asked
her again if anybody had been fingering her and if that was what caused the way
she was chafed and could not walk properly. She told me nothing of such
happened.
go back to sleep but my mind was not at rest. The following morning. I asked
her again if anybody had been fingering her and if that was what caused the way
she was chafed and could not walk properly. She told me nothing of such
happened.
“I then threatened to take
her to the police station. That was when she told me that she could only tell
me if I would not beat her and if I would not confront the person who did it.
When she told me, I nearly collapsed.”
her to the police station. That was when she told me that she could only tell
me if I would not beat her and if I would not confront the person who did it.
When she told me, I nearly collapsed.”
The name the little girl
mentioned was that of their 45-year-old tenant, Victor Aneke.
mentioned was that of their 45-year-old tenant, Victor Aneke.
Before the incident, Mrs.
Adebiyi and the Anekes, who had been living in the house since 1999, had been
having a running battle over unpaid rent.
Adebiyi and the Anekes, who had been living in the house since 1999, had been
having a running battle over unpaid rent.
Victor actually admitted to
our correspondent that he owed at least N200,000 in rent backlog.
our correspondent that he owed at least N200,000 in rent backlog.
Also, Mrs. Adebiyi said when
she noticed that her daughter was too frequent in her tenant’s apartment, she
warned her to stop going there.
she noticed that her daughter was too frequent in her tenant’s apartment, she
warned her to stop going there.
“But I was not worried about
sexual abuse because I knew the man’s wife was around,” she said.
sexual abuse because I knew the man’s wife was around,” she said.
The house is a kind commonly
called ‘face-me-I-face-you’ in Lagos. One of the apartments in the building is
used by Mrs. Adebiyi and her children. Her husband has been away on a long trip
for many months.
called ‘face-me-I-face-you’ in Lagos. One of the apartments in the building is
used by Mrs. Adebiyi and her children. Her husband has been away on a long trip
for many months.
The woman said she did not
know what to do, as she was afraid of confronting her tenant about such an
allegation all alone.
know what to do, as she was afraid of confronting her tenant about such an
allegation all alone.
She notified child rights
activists. When a test was conducted on the girl, a doctor at the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Ikeja said that
the girl had been raped a number of times.
activists. When a test was conducted on the girl, a doctor at the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Ikeja said that
the girl had been raped a number of times.
Our correspondent, with
child rights activist, Esther Ogwu, in tow, later paid the Anekes a visit in
the course of the week.
child rights activist, Esther Ogwu, in tow, later paid the Anekes a visit in
the course of the week.
After a warm welcome, Victor
and his wife launched into a narration about how their landlady had been making
their lives unbearable over their outstanding rent.
and his wife launched into a narration about how their landlady had been making
their lives unbearable over their outstanding rent.
Victor said he only loves
children and thus allowed Comfort to sleep and watch cartoons in his apartment.
children and thus allowed Comfort to sleep and watch cartoons in his apartment.
Asked why he would allow the
child stay in his apartment for extended periods of time even though he was not
in good terms with the girl’s mother, Victor said other children also come to
his apartment to play.
child stay in his apartment for extended periods of time even though he was not
in good terms with the girl’s mother, Victor said other children also come to
his apartment to play.
Victor said, “The woman
always quarrels with me because she wants me out of her house but her husband
is a friend and he told her to leave me alone.
always quarrels with me because she wants me out of her house but her husband
is a friend and he told her to leave me alone.
“Telling her daughter to
accuse me of molesting her was her latest ploy to send me out of this house. I
have never touched the girl because she is like a daughter to me.”
accuse me of molesting her was her latest ploy to send me out of this house. I
have never touched the girl because she is like a daughter to me.”
While Victor spoke, his
fuming wife, Joy, pleaded to have a say during the interview. The woman was
angry that her husband could be accused of such “dirty crime”.
fuming wife, Joy, pleaded to have a say during the interview. The woman was
angry that her husband could be accused of such “dirty crime”.
“How can she ask her
daughter to lie against my husband just because she want us out of this house?”
she said. “Let me tell you the truth, since my husband had an accident in March
2013, he has not had an erection.”
daughter to lie against my husband just because she want us out of this house?”
she said. “Let me tell you the truth, since my husband had an accident in March
2013, he has not had an erection.”
Her husband nodded as she
made the revelation.
made the revelation.
However, later, when our
correspondent went out and was alone with Victor, he said “I will treat you
well if this report could be written to show how innocent I am.”
correspondent went out and was alone with Victor, he said “I will treat you
well if this report could be written to show how innocent I am.”
Ogwu said the defence Joy
put up for her husband was not tenable.
put up for her husband was not tenable.
“She probably knows that her
husband did it but and would rather protect him against the law.
husband did it but and would rather protect him against the law.
“We may not be a law court
that would judge him, but we will pursue this case to as far as needed to prove
that the victim was not lying. We have interviewed her and we have no doubt
that she is telling the truth.”
that would judge him, but we will pursue this case to as far as needed to prove
that the victim was not lying. We have interviewed her and we have no doubt
that she is telling the truth.”
The case has been reported
at the Ipaja Police Division. Victor who was initially arrested was released on
bail on medical grounds.
at the Ipaja Police Division. Victor who was initially arrested was released on
bail on medical grounds.
The police spokesperson, Mr.
Kenneth Nwosu has said that investigation is still ongoing in the case and the
suspect would be charged to court as soon as findings are complete.
Kenneth Nwosu has said that investigation is still ongoing in the case and the
suspect would be charged to court as soon as findings are complete.
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