BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 68-year-old retired school principal, Ayodele Faremi, has been remanded at the Correctional Centre in Ilesa, Osun State for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old-girl.
Faremi was arrested by the men of the Dada Estate Police Station, Osogbo following a complaint that was lodged by some members of the public.
The suspect, who resides at Hallelujah Estate in Osogbo, was said to have defiled a girl, aged nine (name withheld). He was alleged to have taken advantage of the minor twice again in May and once in August 2022.
According to one of the victim’s family members who does not want his name in print, Faremi was caught sometime in September while taking advantage of the minor.
It was learnt that the 68-year-old retired secondary school principal usually gave a pill to the under aged girl to take each time they had a romp.
The Point gathered that pressure was mounting on the victim’s family to conceal the incident, but some of her relatives insisted on getting justice.
Faremi was reportedly arrested by the police through the efforts of a civil society organisation led by Citizen Lola Wey.
Wey was quoted as saying that “We have been monitoring a case of defilement of a 10-year-old-girl which started when the girl was just nine years. The Church has mounted pressure on the family to conceal the heinous crime and the family bowed to the pressure without thinking of the future of the minor and the implication of the act on her.
“This case has been reported to the Osun State CAN Chairman and the Divisional Police Headquarters at Dada Estate.”
A relative of the victim who craved anonymity said, “The pastor of the church that the suspect is attending called for a meeting and Faremi confessed before the pastor and others how he defiled our daughter. The pastor and others were begging us not to do anything.”
Meanwhile, Faremi has been charged before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court on three count- charge bothering on rape, sexual exploitation and assault.
The charge against him read that “Ayodele Faremi, on 13th day of September, 2022, at about 9am at Dele Yes Sir area, Osogbo, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one Korope Rose (not real name), aged 10 years and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 31(1)(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Osun State, 2007.
“You, Ayodele Faremi, on the same date, time and place, did unlawfully take undue advantage of one Korope Rose, aged 10 years and sexually exploited her and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 32 of the Child’s Right Law of Osun State, 2007.
“You (defendant) did unlawfully and indecently assault one Korope Rose, aged 10 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”
Magistrate O.A Daramola ordered that the defendant should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case till October 25.
When the matter was brought before Magistrate A. O. Odeleye Faremi was re-arraigned but his plea was not taken on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.
Odeleye directed the police prosecutor, John Idoko, to forward the defendant’s case file to the Department of Public Prosecution in the state.
Faremi would be spending the coming Christmas and New Year celebrations in prison custody as the case was adjourned till January 17, 2023.
