Adeyemi Dairo, 27, a cobbler living in Ibadan,Oyo state has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl.
Reports say Dairo, an indigene of Eruwa town
in Oyo, forcefully had sex with the victim (names withheld) at his shoe
repair shop on August 21, 2014.
The suspect, however, claims the rape allegations are false describing the young girl as his girlfriend.
According to Tribune reports, Dairo asked the
victim to help him take a bench to his room. As a mark of respect, the
girl did as the cobbler requested but her decision was at a cost as she
lost her virginity. Crime Reports learnt that the suspect allegedly
followed the girl into the room, tied a cloth across her mouth to
prevent her from shouting and tore her underwear before having his way.
He later threatened to organize a gang rape
if the victims dares to tell anyone about what happened. The girl was
said to have complied until her mother noticed her awkward movement few
days after. She confessed to her mother and the case was reported
immediately at the Eleyele Police Station.
Dairo admitted to having sex with the girl
but denied the allegation of rape, saying that she was his girlfriend.
“The girl in question is my girlfriend. I have known her for the past
six months. I told her I liked her the first day she came to mend shoes
but she said she was not interested.
“About a month after, when she came again, I
brought up the issue and she agreed to my proposal. She used to come to
my shop thereafter and would even bring cooked food for me. I used to
buy things for her also. We had known for four months when she visited
me. I told that we should go to my room and she agreed. We went in and
had sex. I was not the one who deflowered her.
“Recently, her mother followed her to my
place and asked whether I knew her and I confirmed that she was my
customer. She said she took long in returning from an errand and said I
should always drive her away from my shop. I was surprised when the
police came the following day to arrest me.
“I was also shocked when the allegation of
rape was levied against me, also that I tied her hands, covered her
mouth and threatened her not to tell anybody. She is my girlfriend, no
doubt about that, and we had sex together just once. She told me she was
14 years old and I am 27 years old. I didn’t use condom the day I slept
with her but did not ejaculate in her.”
When asked whether he would agree that her
sister of the same age as the victim should have a boyfriend, Dairo
replied: “I don’t see anything wrong in it. I can’t also stop her from
having sex, I will only advise her to be careful.”
Oyo police spokeswoman, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor said that the suspect will soon be charged to court after investigations.
