Farmer charged for raping his 14-yr-old daughter

LAGOS — A 50-year-old farmer was, yesterday, charged before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly raping his 14-year-old daughter.

The accused, Yesiru Onajobi, living at Bogije Street, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, is standing trial on a two-count charge of unlawfully having carnal knowledge of his teenage daughter.

He is being prosecuted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Person, NAPTIP.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, however, ordered the accused to be remanded at the Ikoyi prisons.

He adjourned the case to Oct. 21, for hearing of the bail application of the accused, and a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.

The accused was first arraigned before retired Justice Benedicta Molokwu of the FHC, sometime in September 2012. The case was, however, re-assigned to a new judge following the retirement of the judge.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused was arrested on January 20, 2010.

Prosecutor said after the death of his wife, the accused had engaged in the habit of sexually harassing his only daughter, kept in his custody, alleging that the accused intimidated and forcefully had carnal knowledge of the teenager, who eventually became pregnant.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes sections 13 (1) and 18 (a) of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Act 2003.