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An 18-year-old girl on Wednesday narrated to an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, how her father used blackmail to have unlawful sexual intercourse with her since she was 12-years-old.
According to reports, the victim’s father, Folorunso Oluwaseun, 52, was arraigned on February 8 on a two-count charge of rape and sexual assault.
The teenager, the first prosecution witness, told the court that the sexual abuse spanned four years (2012 to 2016) before she was removed from Mr Oluwaseun’s care by her mother.
She revealed that Mr Oluwaseun blackmailed her by refusing to give her and her younger siblings aged five and two years food unless she gave in to his incestuous demands.
While being led in evidence by Babajide Boye, the State Prosecutor, she said: “When the abuse occurred, I was living with my father and four siblings at Ofin in Ikorodu and my mother was staying in Ibadan.
“When it happened, I told my immediate younger sister and she said it is a curse in the Bible. I told my father and he told me it is not a curse that God knows he doesn’t have a wife and God won’t count it as sin.
“I allowed him to continue but my sister said it was not good and I told him I can’t allow him to continue and told me that he would not give us food unless I allowed him to continue.
“He refused to give us food and my young brothers aged five and two were very hungry so my sister said I should allow him to continue so he will give us food since he said it is not a sin and I allowed him to continue.
“I decided to tell his sister, Mummy Tosin and she promised to talk to him.
“He approached me asking why I told his sister after he has told me it isn’t a sin and that it is only if he has sexual intercourse with me that he will have money to take care of us,” she said.
The teenager’s mother, while giving evidence as the second prosecution witness, said she was separated from Oluwaseun after he accused her of witchcraft.
“I moved to Ibadan where I began selling raw foodstuff and sending gifts to my sister to give my children occasionally because their father refused me direct access to them.
“I was unaware of everything that happened to my daughter as she never confided in me until I caught her father in the act.
“I left with my children after he refused to accept responsibility or show any form of repentance for his actions.
“I feared he will kill me in a bid to cover up the secret,” the mother said.
According to the prosecution, the offences contravene sections 137 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Judge, Sybil Nwaka adjourned the case until June 21 for a continuation of trial.
