Pastor testifies against tenant accused of defiling, impregnating his 16-year-old daughter

A pastor, aged 61, took the stand at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday, alleging that his tenant, Godwin Emmanuel, defiled and impregnated his 16-year-old daughter.

Godwin Emmanuel was arraigned before the court by the Lagos State government on a one-count charge of defilement. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the prosecution, Emmanuel allegedly committed the offence between April and July 2021 in the Ajangbadi area of Badagry, thereby contravening the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.

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Upon his plea of not guilty, the state counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade, called on the pastor to testify.

The witness informed the court that Emmanuel had been his tenant for three to four years and that his daughter identified him as the person responsible for her pregnancy, as they had been engaging in sexual relations.

“Godwin defiled my daughter and impregnated her when she was 16 years old. I reported the case at the Area K Police Station in Badagry, where my daughter confirmed that he had been having sexual relations with her for a long time. She decided to keep the pregnancy and gave birth to a female child,” the pastor stated.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr. Victor Edet, the pastor mentioned that he could not recall the exact date when he reported the case to the police. However, when there was no progress in the investigation, he reported the matter to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and sought medical attention for his daughter at a medical centre.

The pastor also revealed that he became convinced of Emmanuel’s involvement in the pregnancy when the defendant’s wife, who is a nurse, provided his daughter with medication to abort the pregnancy.

Additionally, the pastor shared that his daughter disclosed that, during one of their encounters, the condom they were using broke. Emmanuel then allegedly instructed the girl to assign responsibility to a third person whom he introduced to her.

Presiding Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case for further hearing to December 11.

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