In a recent development at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, a 61-year-old pastor came forward as a witness, testifying against his tenant, Godwin Emmanuel, who stands accused of defiling and impregnating his 16-year-old daughter. Lagos State Government has arraigned Emmanuel on a one-count charge of defilement, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution, the alleged defilement occurred between April and July 2021 at the Ajangbadi area of Badagry, and this act is in contravention of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State. State counsel Ms. Abimbola Abolade invited the pastor to give his testimony, during which he revealed that he had known Emmanuel for three to four years, and his daughter identified Emmanuel as the person responsible for her pregnancy, as they had been engaged in a sexual relationship. The pastor stated, “Godwin defiled my daughter and impregnated her at the age of 16 years.”
Under cross-examination by defense counsel Mr. Victor Edet, the pastor couldn’t recall the precise date he reported the case to the police but mentioned that he later reported it to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and at a medical center when the police took no action. He further asserted that Emmanuel’s wife, a nurse, provided drugs to his daughter to attempt to abort the pregnancy, indicating his strong belief that Emmanuel was the responsible party.
The pastor also revealed that during one of the sexual encounters, the condom in use had broken, and Emmanuel instructed his daughter to shift responsibility to a third person introduced by him.
Presiding Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case for further hearing to December 11.
