Father jailed nine years for impregnating daughter

A man, Taiwo Olubayode, has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment with hard labour and without an option of fine by a Family Court sitting at Oke-Eda, Akure, the Ondo State capital, Nigeria. The 56-year-old man was convicted for impregnating his 16-year-old daughter (name withheld) at Oke-Ijebu street, Odode- Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of the state which is also in the Akure Magisterial District. The convict, who was brought before the court by Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps, was charged on one count of having incestuous behaviour with a 16-year-old girl.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, was contrary to and punishable under sections 31(1) and 31(2) of the Ondo State Child’s Right law of Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps 2007. Olubayode pleaded not guilty to the charge on his first arraignment but he was later found guilty by the family court. The NSCDC prosecuting officer Mr Ebriku David told the court that the victim and her boss came to report her father in the NSCDC’s office in Idanre, when it was discovered that the girl was pregnant.
According to him, the case was transferred to Akure division, where the victim informed the command that her father was responsible for the pregnancy. David also told the court that the convict had earlier confessed at the NSCDC office that he committed the offence. In her ruling, the magistrate, Mrs O.A Edwin said the Olubayode was guilty of the offence and sentenced him to nine years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine. The magistrate said it was a shame and act of high immorality for the convict to be having an incestuous affair with his own daughter.