Ondo State map
By Akeem Atoyebi
Many Nigerians have condemned the action of Ondo doctor who allegedly procured abortion for a 10- year -old girl.
An Ondo State Magistrate Court, sitting in Akure has ordered the remand of two men, Adebowale Adegboye, and Idowu Akinseye in prison custody for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl (name withheld).
Adegboye is said to be the father of the victim, while Akinseye is her stepfather.
The two men were alleged to have had carnal knowledge of the victim at different times in Akure, the state capital before they were taken into custody by the men of the state police command.
Also, a medical doctor, Israel Ojo, who reportedly aborted the pregnancy for the victim, was nabbed and charged to court alongside the other two defendants.
The specific accusation against the victim’s father and doctor read, “That you, Adebowale Adegboye and Israel Oluwafemi Ojo, on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial district, did unlawfully procure abortion for the victim and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 230 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria.”
Both Adegboye and Akinseye were charged and arraigned before the court on five counts of charges concerning incest, abortion and indecent assault, while the medical doctor was charged with abortion.
The charge sheet seen on Sunday read, “That you, Adebowale Adegboye ‘m’, on December 15, 2024, at about noon in Akure, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit incest by unlawfully having carnal knowledge of your biological daughter (name withheld), and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25 (a) of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021.
“That you, Adebowale Adegboye ‘m’ on December 15, 2024, on the same day, time and place in Akure, within the jurisdiction of the honourable court did have unlawful carnal knowledge of your daughter and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
“That you Adegboye Adebowale, Ayoola Ogunkolade and Israel Oluwafemi Ojo, on January 20, 2025, at about noon in Akure within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did conspire to commit felony to wit: procurement of abortion and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
Furthermore, the stepfather Akinseye was accused of caressing the victim’s body as well as inserting his left finger in the girl’s vagina, thereby unlawfully having carnal knowledge of the girl.
“That you, Idowu Akinseye ‘m’, sometime in the year 2019 at several times at Alade Idanre Magisterial District did unlawfully and indecently deal with your stepdaughter, aged 10 years, as at the time the offence was committed by caressing her body and inserting your left finger in her vagina without her consent, after which you unlawfully had carnal knowledge of her and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Grace Alphonso, ordered that the defendants should be remanded in a correctional centre facility pending legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution.
She adjourned the case to May 22, 2025, for a hearing.
Meanwhile, reactions have poured in from Nigerians given the age of the victim.
Ade Ajayi Obaro, a school teacher said ” I can’t see any sense in taking them to court where the outcome is not certain. They should have given the duo jungle justice.
Iyabo Adedayo, a business woman said ” honestly unless government and National Assembly come up with stringent measures like applying the death sentence this kind of abominations will not end.
