The defendant claimed that a 15-year old girl was old enough to “know a man.”
He also told the court that he married his first wife before the age of 12.
A 35-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Ademola Adepetu, has been arrested in Akure for allegedly raping his lover’s 12-year-old daughter multiple times. The victim, who testified before a magistrate court, revealed she was locked in a room and assaulted after being abandoned by both parents—her father left the family, while her mother traveled to Libya two years ago. “Before traveling, my mother rented one-room apartment for us and left us in the care of her younger sister, who later absconded,” the girl said, blaming parental neglect for her vulnerability.
Adepetu pleaded guilty but shockingly claimed the victim was 15 and “old enough to know a man.” He further defended himself by stating he married his first wife before turning 12. The defendant had allegedly lured the girl with promises of educational support before sexually assaulting her four times.
The case has sparked outrage, with activists demanding stricter penalties for child predators. Prosecutors are pushing for a maximum sentence as the court adjourns for sentencing.
