An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, has sentenced a man, Ajayi Famakinwa, to 18 years imprisonment for impregnating a 15-year-old girl
Famakinwa, 60, a pastor, was arrested by the police for committing the offence in 2021 at Ayede Ogbese in the Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
The victim was said to be his tenant’s daughter.
The convict had carnal knowledge of the victim under the pretext of delivering her from a demonic spirit tormenting her.
According to the prosecution, he committed the offence on April 13, 2021, on Ayetoro Street, Ayede Ogbese.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 31(1) of the Child Rights Law, Laws of Ondo State, 2012.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel, the judge, Justice Yemi Fasanmi, found Famakinwa guilty and jailed him for 18 years.
The judge slammed the convict for impregnating the victim and turning her into a single mother.
He said, “The defendant’s conduct, his admission of the crime to the Divisional Police Officer at Ayede Ogbese on October 17, 2021, in his voluntary confessional statement to be responsible for the pregnancy and other evidence of the prosecution amounted to sufficient corroboration that the defendant committed the offence.”
The court held that the oral evidence of the defendant in the witness box and denial of responsibility for the pregnancy were an afterthought.
“Based on the above and in strict adherence to the provisions of the law, I have no alternative than to sentence the defendant accordingly and I so hold.
“Though the defendant appeared remorseful in court, he is convicted as charged and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment,” the judge ruled.