A 26-year-old man, Friday Akinlaja who was reported to have allegedly raped a nine-year-old girl (name withheld) in Akure, the Ondo state capital has been remanded at the Olokuta Medium Prison.
Akinlaja, who is the son of a popular Prophetess of a Pentecostal Church in Akure, committed the offence in Oda area of the state capital.
He was said to have been nabbed by the men of the Ondo State Police Command after the crime was reported by neighbours which subsequently culminated in his arraignment in court on Monday, for sexually abusing the minor.
The culprit who was dragged before Magistrate Olanipekun Mayomi, with a one-count charge of rape and defilement of the minor, blamed the devil for his crime.
He was also accused to have handed the sum of ‘N110’ to the nine-year-old after committing the crime.
Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, a medical practitioner who was the first to break the news on his social media page accused the suspect of taking advantage of the poor status of her parents to defile the little girl.
“The man decided to take advantage of the little girl because of the poor status of her parents.
“The poor girl was yet to have her meal all day as 8 pm (on the day of the incident) and the man came visiting.
“The man came visiting when her mum had gone out to look for money to feed her children.
“He then decided that the girl should follow him so he could buy her some bread and Ankara, only to rape the poor girl and give her a pantry of N110.
“A sum which she couldn’t even make use of again because of the pains and anguish had taken over,” he said.
Meanwhile, some lawyers from the state chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, have volunteered to make representation for the minor and her parents in order to get justice.
Also, two social media activists, Oluyemi Fashion and Oluwatoyin Adegbenro and Oluyemi Fashipe who both joined their voices to the growing number of those who have condemned the crime, vowed to ensure that the little girl and her family get justice.
“We will ensure that all apparatus are used to fight for justice for this young girl and never shall we encourage this type of physical assault, molestation and attack on our ladies” they said.
