A GROUP of women under the aegis of Ifelere Mothers, yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the premises of Ado Ekiti High Court, Ekiti State decrying the high rate of raping minors in the state.
The protest coincided with the arraignment of a 27 year -old Gbenga Ojo at the magistrate court alleged to have raped a four-year old orphan on May 30, 2011 at the state capital.
About two weeks ago, a policeman was arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a 12 year old student in Ado Ekiti.
The protesters who came with placards were led by the Women Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Mrs. Ronke Okunsanya.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “Stop all violence against women; Ekiti women say no to child abuse, justice must be done and child molestation is evil.”
Speaking with reporters, Okunsanya recounted some ugly experiences some under- aged girls had gone through under some men, adding that a stop must be put to such heinous act.
She added, “Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old girl was impregnated by a security man. Also some few weeks ago, a 14-year-old girl gave birth. We want our children in school to be lawyers, doctors and well-to-do in future. We don’t want men to take advantage of these ladies.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the wife of Ekiti State Governor Mrs Bisi Fayemi in an interview with The Guardian condemned the rate of violence against women and girls in the state. She promised to champion the cause to review the legal framework in the state to checkmate the trend and ensure that masterminds of crimes against women did not go unpunished.
She said that protection of women’s right was part of the agenda of Ekiti Development Foundation which would be launched on June 10 in Ado Ekiti.
The charge sheet read, “That you Ojo Gbenga ‘M’ aged 27 years old on 30/05/2011 between the hours of 0700hrs and 2200hrs at No.4 Adebayo Street, Ado-EKiti in Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District did unlawfully had carnal knowledge with one (name withheld) ‘F’ under five years old. You thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 218 of the criminal code cap 30 vol.11 laws of Ondo state of Nigeria 1978 as applicable in Ekiti state.”
When the charge was read to the accused in English and interpreted to him in Yoruba, he denied the allegation by nodding his head in disapproval.
The Magistrate, Mrs. M. A Aina, asked if the accused wanted a legal counsel, to which he answered in the affirmative.
She advised the accused to request for a state counsel to represent him on June 16.
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Women protest abuse of minors in Ekiti