COURT REMANDS PASTOR OVER DEFILMENT OF 14-YEAR-OLD FOSTER DAUGHTER IN ONDO

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An Ondo State Family Court has ordered the remand of a pastor, Adetunji Obatayo, in the Olokuta Correctional Centre for sexually assaulting his foster daughter and procuring an abortion for her three times.

It was discovered that the victim had lived with the defendant since her parents handed her over to the pastor in 2020. In addition, Obatayo serves as the victim’s 14-year-old son’s school principal.

The 55-year-old defendant was taken into custody by state police officers after the victim informed her parents about the sexual relationship with the pastor.

He was then charged with three counts of defilement and unlawful prescription of drugs to obtain an abortion, which results to the death of an unborn child.

The charge stated that the offences violated Sections 218, 230, and 328 of the Ondo State 2006 Criminal Laws.

The victim said in court during the hearing that Obatayo had been having sex with her ever since she moved home with him when she was ten years old.

“Four years ago, my parents released me to live with the pastor due to his desire to train me. On my first day in his house, he forcefully had sexual intercourse with me and told me not to tell anyone about it.

“He had impregnated me thrice and he gave me N5,000 to buy some drugs to abort the pregnancy after many preventive drugs. But during the third pregnancy, he refused to give me money for the drug, and I stole his money to buy the pills.

”Pastor later accused me of stealing his money for my boyfriend which led to the arrest of a boy in our school and I informed my parents about his actions,” the victim said.

In his decision, B.A. Alphonso, the magistrate, ordered the defendant to be placed under remand at the Olokuta Correctional Centre and instructed the Department of Public Prosecutions to be consulted on the case file.

The court postponed the case until August 29, 2024, for mention and directed that the victim to be taken for rehabilitation.