It was double jeopardy for a 13-year old girl in Lagos State, who was severally raped by her stepfather, Monday Endurance, as he got her impregnated in the process.
The victim is now six months pregnant and is due to be delivered of the baby in three months time.
Police operatives have arrested the 35-year old stepfather, Endurance and charged before the Court for statutory rape and for Impregnating his stepdaughter.
The man, Endurance, a motorcyclist, who resides at Apple Junction, Igboeseyore, Snake Island, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State, with the victim has been ordered remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, by the Court for the alleged offence.
The Police alleged that the defendant molested the victim, engaged her in sex romp and impregnated her before the mother, Mrs. Gift, noticed that she was pregnant and she mentioned the stepfather, Endurance, as being behind the dastardly act.
The matter was reported to the Police in the area and the defendant was arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Command for interrogation over the conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.
But the Court did not take his plea following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, ordered his remand in prison custody and directed the prosecutor to forwarded his file to Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
The defendant will remain in in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
The matter was adjourned till 19th October, 2022, for mention.
The Prosecutor, Mr. Raji, had earlier told the Court that the offence was committed between March to August, 2022, at the defendant’s residence where the victim’s mother, Mrs. Gift, noticed that her daughter was pregnant and on enquiry, the girl confided in her that it was her stepfather that impregnated her.
Raji told the Court that the victim is six months pregnant, adding that the action contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.