Widow threatened with eviction for reporting rape of minor

A five-year old Minor had been reportedly raped by 35-year-old man in Lagos. This was contained in a petition sent to the Lagos assembly by a widow simply called Madam Unice.

Presenting the petition on the floor of the house in the plenary session, the clerk Segun Abiru disclosed that the petitioner alleged that the five year old minor was defiled inside the toilet by the son of her landlord. It was also stated that neighbors came to her rescue and took the accused to police station. The landlord consequently threatened to evict Madam Unice from his house.

Commenting on the case during the plenary  session of the house, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho remarked that the Child Rights Law, revealed that rape attracts life imprisonment. She lamented that the alleged rapist was released on bail. She added that the rapist had been aggressive and her mother has been evicted from her apartment by the landlord, the father of the alleged rapist.

Hon. Tejuosho recommended the case to be committed to the Office of Public Defender(OPD). She also appealed to the house to look on the offence of rape, emphasizing that it carries life imprisonment and is not bailable. In the same vein, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa observed that since the case is still in court, there is little House  can do then but for harassment and victimization the house should look into the aspect.

Commenting, Hon. Rotimi Olowo deduced that the rapist could be a nymphomaniac and needs psychological treatment. Also speaking, the chairman committee on Judiciary and public petition Hon. Sanai Agunbiade noted that attempt to commit rape is criminalized for a fourteen (14) years, emphasizing that law provides life imprisonment for rape. He lamented that defilement of minor is becoming unbearable. Agunbiade suggested that ministries should enlighten people on rape cases.

The speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji said “It is our business to get people enlightened on rape”. He appealed to Office of Public Defender (OPD) to take up the case of defilement of five years old minor by a 35 years old man.