A 45-year-old man who was arrested for
raping a 13-year-old primary school pupil is
insisting that he did nothing wrong. He
claims he had a relationship with the minor
and that she was his fiancée.
Victor Emmanuel, 45, was arrested by
detectives attached to the Ajangbadi Police
Station after they were informed of a
pregnant student who was raped by a man.
The 13-year-old girl, whose name is being
withheld, sells plantain after school and will
sometimes stop by Victor’s shop, where he
sews clothes, to sell plantain to him. It was
reportedly on one of such days that he took
her into his shop and raped her.
Now, he is insisting what he did was not
rape and was acceptable as he was in the
process of getting married to the girl and
has even paid her bride price. The Imo state
indigene said he has given the girl’s parents
N20,000 for her bride price and to get
drinks. He also claims to have paid an
additional N64,000 as part payment for the
marriage rites. He claims that he’s been
following the girl to the hospital for
antenatal care and settles every bill at the
hospital. He went on to encourage the
police officers to go to the girl’s compound
and ask her neighbours about him, that they
will all testify he’s telling the truth.
Meanwhile, when he was asked for the name
of the pregnant girl’s school, her home
address and her parent’s name, he could
not answer.
New Telegraph reports that Emmanuel
claims his supposed parents-in-law
consented to the relationship and are
denying it now only because their daughter’s
school authorities said she’s too young to
get married. He said his supposed father-
in-law called and told him that the girl’s
school authority said the victim was too
young for sexual activities and he was
arrested soon after.
“I didn’t rape her! We are in a
relationship, ” he said. “We’re even
planning to get married. We have
been dating for eight months now.
The girl’s parents know me. Yes, I
know she’s pregnant for me. I have
accepted the pregnancy and I’m
already taking care of her.
“I have started the marriage rites. In
fact, the girl’s parents had been
collecting money from me. I have
paid N20,000 to them for introduction
and to buy drinks. They have also
asked me to bring N100,000, out of
which I have paid N64,000.”
He continued:
“They are already addressing me as
husband. I take good care of her,
including paying for her hospital
bills. I go to her house at Ajangbadi
every time. In fact, the mother called
me last week and brought some
clothes to my shop to sew for her.
“The woman told me that she would
be travelling this week. She used to
bring food for me and sometimes
drops the girl with me at my shop. If
police go to their compound to make
their investigations, neighbours would
tell them that I am her husband. I
have also been paying for her ante-
natal. Yes, I once went with her to
hospital for ante-natal. On most
ante-natal days, her mother would
come over to collect money from
me.”
The Investigating Police Officer (IPO),
Sergeant Mary Ikumo, said that the victim’s
parents claimed not to know or had ever set
eyes on Emmanuel and that their daughter,
a primary six pupil, was raped by
Emmanuel.
Ikumo said:
“The mother of the victim was with
us yesterday. She said she didn’t
know the suspect from Adam. The
mother said that the girl used to
hawk plantain and the suspect was
one of her customers. He used to tip
the girl N500 every time he buys
plantain from her. One day, he pulled
her into his shop and raped her.”
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