An Akure Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of a 35-year old married man, Ademola Adepetu, at the Olokuta Correctional Centre for allegedly r3ping his girlfriend’s 12-year old daughter (name withheld).
Adepetu, a commercial motorcyclist, was arraigned before the court on a one-count charge of unlawful s3xual intercourse.
The victim, while recounting her ordeal before the court, said the defendant locked her inside a room before def!ling her.
She told the court that he had raped her four times before he was eventually arrested.
Narrating her background, the victim explained that her father had abandoned her and her two younger siblings, aged 7 and 3, while their mother left for Libya in search of greener pastures two years ago.
“Before travelling, my mother rented a one-room apartment for us and left us in the care of her younger sister, who later absconded and never returned,” she said.
The victim blamed her traumatic experience on parental negligence, stating that the defendant took advantage of their abandonment and lured her with promises of sponsoring her education, only to s3xually assault her instead.
When arraigned, Adepetu pleaded guilty, but insisted that the girl was 15 years old when he had carnal knowledge of her, claiming that a 15-year old was old enough to “know a man.
Shockingly, he also told the court that he married his first wife before the age of 12.
The prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso, earlier informed the court that the offence was committed in Ondo town.
He said the mother of the victim, who was a girlfriend to the defendant, travelled to Libya after renting a room for her three children, then aged 10, 5, and 3.
Olowofeso disclosed that according to investigations, the defendant’s first wife had also travelled to Libya and after settling down, she asked her husband to look for someone interested in joining her there.
It was at that point that the victim’s mother, who was in a relationship with the defendant, volunteered to travel.
“After the children’s mother left for Libya, the rent for the one-room apartment expired.
“The defendant then offered to accommodate the children and it was during the period that he began to s3xually abuse the girl,” the prosecutor added.
He prayed the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
In her ruling, Magistrate Grace Alphonso, ordered that Adepetu be remanded at Olokuta Prison pending DPP’s advice.
She also directed that the three children, who were abandoned by their mother, be taken into protective custody at Dorian Home along Idanre Road, Akure, for protection and counselling.
The court ordered that the children’s mother, who is currently abroad and expected to return from Libya, be denied visitation rights upon arrival.
The case was adjourned to July 24, 2025, for further hearing.
