A 42-year-old pastor, Samson Ajayi, has been arraigned before the Akure Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly raping his 17-year-old biological daughter.

Ajayi, a father of five, was accused of committing the incestuous act repeatedly over the past four years at his residence in Igoba, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

The abuse reportedly came to light after his wife, who had been unaware of the assaults, discovered the incident last week and reported to the Igoba Police Station.

The pastor was later arrested at a prayer mountain.

During his arraignment, Ajayi confessed to the crime, blaming it on what he described as a “generational curse.”

“I eventually did it. But I didn’t know what came over me. I think it is a generational curse because my father also did it to my sister, his biological daughter. It was just an act to disgrace me,” he said in court.

He was charged with two counts of rape and defilement, contrary to Sections 3 (a, b, and c) 25 of the Ondo State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, 2021.

Prosecution counsel Martins Olowofeso told the court that the offences were committed between March 2021 and August 2025.

However, Ajayi’s counsel, Kehinde Osadugba, appealed for an out-of-court settlement, arguing that the victim’s mother had forgiven him since he was the family’s breadwinner.

The presiding magistrate, Taiwo Lebi, rejected the request, ruling that the defendant’s confession provided sufficient grounds for his remand.

Ajayi was ordered to be remanded at Olokuta Correctional Facility pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The prosecutor was also directed to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP.

The case was adjourned to November 20, 2025, for further review. (The Nation, but headline rejigged)