A man, identified only as Kayode, has committed suicide after his neighbor’s daughter accused him of raping her twice at their house in the Oja-Amukoko area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the victim’s mother, who had a stroke, was taken to the Ikorodu area for treatment.

The suspect, who was put in the care of the 16-year-old at home, was said to have taken advantage of her.

Her father said she accused Kayode of raping her twice, adding that he also seized her phone to prevent her from informing her family members.

He said, “My daughter stays with her mother, as both of us are no longer together. My ex-wife had been suffering from a stroke and from what we gathered, she had a neighbor, Kayode, who had been assisting to take care of her.

“But when my ex-wife’s sickness worsened, she was taken to Ikorodu for treatment and her daughter also followed her. As time went on, the neighbor had to go there to bring my daughter back to her mother’s house around Campus, Amukoko, so she could continue schooling.

“But she suddenly left her mother’s place and came to my place on Ojo Road. She said she wanted to continue staying with me till her mother recovered. About 20 minutes after she came, Kayode also came to my place and started saying he knew my daughter’s behavior better than I did.

“He said if she was no longer staying at her mother’s house, he would have to return her to her mother in Ikorodu since he was the one who brought her home. He also said she came to stay at my place because she wanted the freedom to go out and that he never had any agreement with her mother that she would be staying with me.”

After speaking with his ex-wife, the victim’s father said Kayode took his daughter back home but a few days later, he received a call from his ex-wife’s younger brother, who told him to go home to rescue his daughter.

He said, “I quickly rushed there, but I didn’t meet her at home. I called my ex-wife’s younger brother and he said he would soon join me at the place.

“After a few minutes, I saw my daughter and she informed me that Kayode raped her. She said she could not sleep alone in her mother’s apartment and that when she slept at Kayode’s apartment, he raped her twice and seized her phone.

“It was when she told Kayode that she wanted to contact her mum that he released his phone to her and instead of calling her mum, she used that opportunity to text her mum’s younger brother.

“So, we went to a police station and she explained to the policemen who said they could not hear only our side of the story. We went to pick up Kayode but didn’t meet him at home. The policemen then directed us to do a medical test at Orege General Hospital. We were also asked to return the next day as they searched for him.

“The next day, I received a call that Kayode drank insecticide and died. They found him in the backyard of their house and rushed him to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Kayode’s brother reported to the command that he committed suicide.

He said, “The father of the girl, 16, reported that his wife’s co-tenant, Kayode, 41, defiled his daughter. After the report was made, policemen were detailed to arrest the suspect, but he was not seen.

“The investigation was ongoing when the suspect’s brother came to the station to report that Kayode committed suicide by drinking a substance suspected to be insecticide. The corpse was recovered but later released to the family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.”

A consultant psychiatrist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and founder, of Asido Foundation, Dr. Jibril Abdulmalik, described the incident as unfortunate.

He said, “Some people consider suicide to be a way out of facing shame and embarrassment. His death via suicide is unlikely to give solace to the young girl and her family, as it may not provide closure for them.

“But on the other hand, his actions may also be viewed as showing remorse and a form of atonement. The best approach is to ensure that the law takes its course.”

Man rapes minor after promising her phone, money

A man, identified only as Damilare, was on Tuesday arraigned before Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Ikeja for allegedly raping a minor.

The 16-year-old, who was aged 14 at the time of the incident, said Damilare met her on her way to a salon and promised to give her money and buy her a phone.

“I said my parents would complain. He then asked to take me to his house, but I said no because my parents sent me to go and have a haircut,” she added.

During cross-examination by the defense counsel, she explained that the defendant dragged her into his house, took off her pants, and raped her, adding that when she screamed, he used his hand to cover her mouth.

She said, “He pushed me on the bed, removed my pants, and raped me. When I screamed for help, he used his hand to cover my mouth.”

The 16-year-old said she noticed that she was bleeding after the attack.

The case was adjourned till October 26, 2022, for further hearing.

Ekiti man bags life sentence for raping JSS 3 pupil

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Shola Oguntuase, to life imprisonment for raping a 14-year-old Junior Secondary School 3 pupil.

Oguntuase was tried on one count of rape.

The charge read, “That you, Shola Oguntuase, on July 7, 2020, at Ire Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did rape a 14-year-old girl.

“The offense contravenes Section 31(2) of the Child’s Right Law, Cap. R7, Laws of Ekiti State.”

In her statement, the victim said, “I am a JSS 3 student. I was sleeping in our room that evening when I spread a cloth on my body. Suddenly, I saw Brother Shola remove the cover cloth; he then laid on me.

“When I was struggling to stand up and shout, he covered my mouth and nose with the cloth and I could not breathe well. I became weak when he started hitting me with blows in the head. He removed my pants and had sexual intercourse with me.

“Thereafter, he used a white handkerchief to rub my private parts and left. I cried till my mother’s arrival. I told her what happened.”

The police prosecutor, Marcus Olowoyo, called four witnesses and tendered the defendant’s statement, the victim’s statement, and a medical report as exhibits.

The defendant, who spoke through his counsel, Rotimi Adabembe, called no witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said, “From the entire circumstances, I have no doubt that the prosecution established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant raped the female victim. The defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.”

21-year-old man sodomizes 10-year-old neighbor, flees

A lady, Progress Don-Pedro, has narrated how a 21-year-old male neighbor allegedly sodomized her younger brother of 10 years.

Don-Pedro said the suspect, Divine Soibifa-Akpanah, threatened her brother after the act in their home on Ikwerre Road, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

She said, “It happened twice. The first happened in 2020 and he threatened my brother not to say anything. The second happened on April 25, 2022. A 13-year-old boy that lives with the boy’s family saw him committing the act. The boy confronted my brother and my brother told him everything. The boy then reported everything to my mom.”

Don-Pedro said her brother did not want to tell their mom until he was promised to be taken out of the country.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the case was reported at the Mile 1 Police Station on May 3 and Soibifa-Akpanah was arrested the following day.

Don-Pedro said the suspect admitted to sodomizing her brother.

“However, the police said they could not hold him for more than 24 hours and he was granted bail. We then told them to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department. My mom submitted a petition to the Commissioner of Police and also reported the case to the state CID. They told her they would take over the case from Mile 1 Police Station,” she added.

The victim’s sister said her mom informed her two weeks ago that the Investigating Police Officer had asked her to inform the police whenever they saw the suspect.

“The IPO and the DPO said they would arrest the boy’s father, but my mom had to pay for the transport since she was the complainant. We have just been spending money. This same boy molested my younger sister in 2020 when she was just four years old. His mom begged and signed an undertaking that he would not come close to my siblings. My immediate younger sister, who is 13-year-old, also said the suspect had been begging her for sex,” she added.

She noted that the boy’s father was arrested when the police could not find the suspect, adding that he was charged to court last week and granted bail.

The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident but made no further comment.

In a text message, she said, “The case has been charged to court.”

A legal practitioner, Wasiu Adereti, said sexual relations involving the same gender were not only unlawful but also unnatural.

A psychologist, Dr. Mathew Olasupo, said victims of such abuse would experience short and long-term psychological effects, which could lead to depression and suicide.

“The victim must go through behavioral and cognitive psychological interventions. Visiting a professional psychologist is advised,” he added.

Credit: The Punch