How my father sexually abused me for 4 years, victim tells court

An 18-year-old admission seeker (name withheld) on Wednesday narrated to an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court how her father used blackmail to sexually abuse her since she was 12-years-old. The father, 52-year-old Folorunso Oluwaseun, was arraigned on February 8 on a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault. The teenager, the first prosecution […]

An 18-year-old admission seeker (name withheld) on Wednesday narrated to an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court how her father used blackmail to sexually abuse her since she was 12-years-old.

The father, 52-year-old Folorunso Oluwaseun, was arraigned on February 8 on a two-count charge of defilement and sexual assault.

The teenager, the first prosecution witness, told the court that the sexual abuse spanned four years (2012 to 2016) before she was removed from Oluwaseun’s care by her mother.

She revealed that Oluwaseun blackmailed her by refusing to give her and her younger siblings, aged five and two years, food unless she gave in to his incestuous demands.

While being led in evidence by Mr Babajide Boye, the state prosecutor, she said: “When the abuse occurred, I was living with my father and four siblings at Ofin in Ikorodu and my mother was staying in Ibadan.

“When it happened, I told my immediate younger sister and she said it is a curse in the Bible, I told my father and he told me it is not a curse that God knows he doesn’t have a wife and God won’t count it as sin.

“I allowed him to continue but my sister said it was not good and I told him I can’t allow him continue and he told me that he would not give us food unless I allowed him to continue.

“He refused to give us food and my young brothers aged five and two were very hungry so my sister said I should allow him to continue so he will give us food since he said it is not a sin and I allowed him continue.

“I decided to tell his sister, Mummy Tosin and she promised to talk to him,” she said.

According to the prosecution, the offences contravene sections 137 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Justice Sybil Nwaka adjourned the case until June 21 for continuation of trial. (NAN)