Crime
Student cries, collapses in court on sighting pastor who allegedly serially raped her
A student with special needs (name withheld), on Wednesday, cried in court on sighting a school proprietor, who allegedly defiled her six years ago.
The mild drama occurred at an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, when the defendant, Pastor Timothy Onyiriuka, stood in the witness box.
The student, who has a speech impairment and learning difficulty, collapsed in the witness box upon seeing the 45-year-old Onyiriuka.
She said repeatedly that she did not want to see the suspect’s face.
Justice Abiola Soladoye had to tell the student to calm down.
The judge told the student that she had the option of coming to court on another date to give evidence.
“You can also testify as we go on, I can give you a break if you need one.
“Do not be afraid; he is not coming for you; you are protected by God and the court,” the judge said.
Soladoye stood down the trial to enable the student to calm down to give evidence.
After an hour, the case was announced in court and the student, after being counselled by a staff of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, came back into the courtroom to testify.
Led in evidence by the state counsel, Mrs Arinola Momoh-Ayokanbi, the student, now 19 years old, narrated how Onyiriuka, also a pastor, allegedly defiled her.
“I know him; his name is Pastor Timothy; he slept with me. He took me to his house three times, opened his trouser, opened his pants and put his penis in my vagina.
“He came to my mummy’s house, he sat on a chair, held a cane and told me not to tell anyone.
“He said if I tell anyone, he would beat me and kill me. He slept with me once in my mummy’s house.
“He is our pastor and the owner of the school,” she said.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr A. C Abarah, the student said that some of the acts of defilement took place in the school proprietor’s apartment, which was downstairs of a storey building.
She said Onyiriuka was caught in the act by her mother when he defiled her in her bedroom.
“When my mother entered my room, I was naked. When she saw Pastor Timothy, she was shaking,” the witness said.
She said her mother reported the defendant to the police and she was taken to a hospital for medical examination.
Following the cross-examination, the prosecution announced that it was closing its case against Onyiriuka.
Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case until February 24 for defence.
Onyiriuka is a resident of NIdowu Bale St., Oke-Ira, Kekere, Ajah, Lagos, and the proprietor of a school located at Power Line, Oke-Ira, Kekere, Ajah, Lagos.
He is facing a charge of defilement contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State
The prosecution alleged that the school proprietor, who is remanded, defiled the student on October 21, 2013 when she was 13 years old.
Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, prescribes life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defilement of a child.
(NAN)
-
News22 hours ago
Tinubu present at burial ceremony of slain Delta soldiers
-
News22 hours ago
FG declares friday and monday public holiday
-
News21 hours ago
Tinubu honours slain Delta soldiers with MON, OFR awards
-
Entertainment21 hours ago
Best-dressed female: I could have made similar mistake, says Femi Branch
-
Entertainment22 hours ago
Diddy’s associate arrested on drug charges
-
News6 hours ago
[ICYMI] NNPC denies fuel price adjustment
-
News22 hours ago
FG plans policies to stabilize of naira – Shettima
-
Entertainment19 hours ago
Osita Iheme ‘Paw Paw’ reacts to his famous memes