The Ondo state police command has dragged a 35 year old herb seller, Taiwo Mufutau, before an Akure family Magistrate court, for allegedly, defiling his 8 year old biological daughter. Mufutau was arraigned on a single charge of rape, a violation of Section 25(a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of 2021.
The police prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso, informed the court that “the defendant was apprehended on June 18, 2004, following a report made to the Anti-kidnapping Unit at Alagbaka about the inappropriate relationship between him and his daughter. Olowofeso said that the defendant was subsequently detained for further investigation.
The charge sheet reads: “That you, Mufutau Taiwo, 35, male, on June 5, 2024, at about 4:pm at No. 40 Egbe-Road, Ayedun Quarters, Akure, did have carnal knowledge of your daughter, (name withheld), aged 8 years old, of the same address, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021.”
The Police prosecutor, told the court that Taiwo and his wife, ran away from their house after the crime and went to Osun State to obtain a fake doctor’s report claiming that nothing happened to the girl.
Olowofeso, added that the Police Investigating Officer(IPO), conducted another test in Akure, which revealed that there was penetration and the girl had been bleeding for three days.
According to him, the defendant confessed to the alleged crime during questioning by the investigating officer. The plea of the defendant was not taken due to the nature of the offence.
Olowofeso, through an application, urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the issuance of advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
But counsel to the defendant, G.O. Omoedu, informed the court that his client was just served and that he would need some time to respond on points of law. Omoedu therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him reply to the remand application.
In her ruling, the trail Magistrate, B.A. Alipohul ordered that the defendant be remanded in police custody. Alipohul thereafter, adjourned the case till July 4, 2024, for hearing.
