An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court yesterday heard how a father, Adewunmi Ajayi, allegedly had unlawful sexual intercourse with his underage step-daughter.

The unlawful sexual assault resulted in multiple pregnancies and abortions.

An Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Aderinto Foluke, made this known yesterday while giving evidence before Justice Abiola Soladoye.

The IPO with AP No. 287997 attached to Human Rights Unit of the Nigeria Police testified in the ongoing trial of a couple, Mr. Adewunmi, who is married to the survivor?s mother, Idowu Ajayi.

The woman inspector told the judge the outcome of police investigation into the alleged sexual assault.

According to her, ?We concluded that Mr. Adewunmi has been sleeping with the survivor since 2019.

The prosecution witness led by State Prosecution Counsel, Abibat Ogunwemimo, told the court that the incident was reported to the Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos Island, by a teacher who came with a-15-year old survivor with a referral letter from Alausa.?

She further stated that the survivor?s step-father had been having carnal knowledge with the minor and in the process the survivor had two pregnancies, which her mother aborted.

She claimed the survivor also told them she was pregnant for her step-father the third time.

She said the survivor said she was afraid, so she confided in her teacher because of her mother who she claimed will abort for her again.

The IPO said trouble started for the couple in 2021 when they were arrested by the police.

Following the arrest of the first defendant, Ajayi, his wife, Mrs. Idowu Ajayi, the second defendant, went to the police where they wrote statements.

The prosecution witness also said, ?The survivor also said she did not notice that her step father used to put drugs in her tea until the day her sister saw left-over particles in the cup.

The IPO said the survivor complained to her grandmother, who in turn, talked to her mother.

She said the mother denied it when she was told but took her daughter to hospital when she complained of stomach pain.

?The girl said she wanted to further her education, that that was why she reported to her teacher.

?We gave her a referral paper and when the result came she was pregnant.

?We found out that the mother had taken her for abortions two times.

Under cross examination by the Defence Counsel Emmanuel Uwadoka, the IPO said she investigated the matter.

She however said she didn?t visit the crime scene nor the hospital.

She maintained that the survivor told the police that something was put in her tea.

She also claimed she spoke with the survivor?s grandmother over the phone during her investigation.

Two statements, a medical referral letter and a medical result were admitted as exhibits by the court.

Justice Soladoye adjourned the matter till May 28 for continuation of trial. (The Nation)

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