24th November, 2011
The Family Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria has sentenced a driver, Philip Michael to 14 years imprisonment for having unlawful carnal knowledge of his daughter which resulted in pregnancy.
The victim, Happiness Michael, 12 later gave birth to a baby boy on 22 November, 2010.
The Family Social Services Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development got wind of the abuse and arrested the randy driver.
Delivering judgment in the case yesterday, Chief Magistrate Femi Segun found the accused guilty of having unlawful carnal knowledge of her daughter and sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
She said the sentence is justified in view of the nature of the offence and the impunity with which the offence was committed.
Justice Segun advised the convict to amend his ways after serving his jail term, adding that the one and a half years the convict had spent in custody will be deducted from the jail term.
Last year, the Family Social Services, Office of Youth and Social Development investigated the allegation that a 12-year old girl was abused by his father which resulted in pregnancy. The matter was reported to the government by the victim’s teacher.
During interrogation, Miss Happiness revealed that she was forcefully taken away from her biological mother by her father when her stepmother died.
She said her father had sex with her severally and was detected to be pregnant by a teacher in her school.
Immediately, the victim was withdrawn from his father and placed under care and protection of the Special Correctional Centre for Girls at Idi Araba, Mushin, Lagos while the baby boy delivered by Happiness was placed under the care of the Lagos State government.
Phillip Michael was arrested and detained at the Kirikiri Prisons, Apapa while the matter was charged before the Family Court, Ikorodu by the Commissioner of Police, represented by the prosecutor, Inspector Fola Takumbe.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga