An Ogun State-born ‘cleric,’ George Akinyele, was almost lynched by
an angry mob for allegedly having carnal knowledge of an 8-year-old
girl. However, Akinyele, who is said to be the shepherd in charge of one
of the branches of a leading pentecostal church in the Ejigbo area of
Lagos state, did not escape being beaten black and blue and paraded
naked, by the mob.
The victim’s father, known as Baba Akeem narrated how the unfortunate
sexual knowledge of his little child began: “About a month ago, we were
shocked when our daughter, Elizabeth complained of virginal pains,
saying that she was sexually abused by ‘Baba’, the name she calls
Akinleye the neighbourhood pastor. Her descriptions of what transpired
between her and Akinleye showed that she was actually raped.”
The father, who was visibly shocked and enraged, continued: “Angrily,
I confronted the man. He accepted getting close to my daughter, but
denied raping her; I knew he was lying. I almost got the Police
involved, if not for the advice from neighbours to allow the sleeping
dog lie. Surprisingly, barely a month later, I came back home from work,
only for my daughter to start demanding for the type of drug I gave her
in the past when ‘Baba’ abused her. I asked her why she needs it, but
to my shock, she said ‘Baba’ abused her again. That was how I raised the
alarm and took my daughter to the nearest hospital, for medical
examination and possible treatment. This was after the hospital
confirmed the abuse”, he alleged.
Akinyele who refers to himself as the ‘Apostle of the Most High’
during his early morning sermons in he area, defended himself thus: “We
both live in the same environment, and the father is so close to me that
sometimes I ask him for help which he always rendered. I’m innocent of
this particular accusation-the recent one. The first time I was accused
of raping her, I had gone to their house where I met the little girl
working on her school assignment. I offered to help her with the
assignment which she gave me and I later returned it to her. I don’t
know why nobody believed me, I didn’t have sex with that girl”, he
exonerated himself.
“This time around, she is saying that I ‘double crossed’ her at
Somonu Animashaun Street and had sex with her again. How could I have
done that? I wasn’t even at that area at the said time of the rape.
Before God and man, I didn’t do anything to her this second time that
I’m being accused.”
However following several threats, the preacher eventually admitted committing the ‘unholy act’ with the infant girl once.
Confirming Elizabeth’s rape, the resident doctor of the hospital
where she was treated disclosed that, “she was brought here by her
father and I can confirm she is okay now. I’m just appalled by how the
accused man was treated. If care was not taken, he could have been
lynched. I’m against jungle justice no matter the level of crime
committed”, the doctor added.
If not for the timely arrival of policemen attached to the Ejigbo
police station, the alleged child rapist could have been lynched after
the mob heard him admit to the heinous and dastardly act.
The doctor however disclosed that due to the victim’s twin ailments
of ulcer and diabetes, he couldn’t be detained for long and was
subsequently released by the police on medical grounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment