A man estimated to be about 70 years old, Francis Ogu from Mbano in Imo State, is alleged to have raped his 10 year- old female house-help in Anambra State.
The girl who narrated her ordeal in the office of the commissioner for women and children affairs in the state, Mrs Ify Obinabo at the weekend, said the man raped her thrice and always warned her not to tell anyone.
She said the first time Mr. Ogu did it to her, he gave her N200, which she gave to the man’s wife, whom she said she took as her mother.
She told the commissioner that the second time the man raped her, he gave her N500, and when the wife returned, she gave her the money, after which she told her to use it to buy promo for her.
The third time, she said, the man gave her N1,000 after the act and still went and gave it to “mummy”.
She, however, said one day one of the children started warning their mother that she was overlooking her relationship with their father, and warned her that if she didn’t act fast, she stood the risk of losing their father to her (the small girl).
She told the commissioner that the boy started beating her and inflicted injury on her, so she decided to run to her biological mother who sells fruits by the roadside.
The man however denied ever using his manhood on the girl, saying he only “fingered her once.”
He said, “I have never slept with her. I only fingered her once. She normally asked me to give her money to buy biscuits. I dashed her money just once”.
At this point he broke down in tears; covering his face with his two palms.
He said, “Commissioner, please come and give me 24 strokes of the cane. I have failed God and humans. I am not worthy to live again. But forgive me. I am a pastor.
“The problem is that my wife is too prayerful. Each time I approached her, she would tell me to leave her; that she was fasting; that she was doing prayers.
“I have never defiled any girl. Any time I repeat it, let God strike me with thunder.”
I have been so much disgraced in many places in Awka today by people who heard this story.”
The commissioner directed her aides to hand him over to the police for prosecution.