A prominent faith-based and non-governmental organization in Osun state popularly known as Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo has advocated for the swift Justice over an alleged rape case of 13-year old girl (name withheld) in Ilesa, Osun state by her grandparents’tenant who was identified as Adedeji Adetunji.

The victim, who lived with her grandparents upon the death of her mother and abandonment by her father, reported the incident to her grandparents the very first time the alleged rapist took advantage of her. However, due to perceived financial implications of prosecution of cases and lack of information about structures that could defend fundamental rights of people especially indigent persons, the old and poor grandparents could not report the matter but only action taken by the victim’s grandparents in 2019 when the suspect first committed the offence was to insist that the rapist signed an undertaken never to abuse the victim again but contrary to the undertaken signed by the rapist, he continued with his evil act.

It was reported by the victim that the suspect had been serially violating her by covering her face before taking her to his room where he usually raped her and threatened to kill her if she ever told anybody. She further stated that the suspect always monitored her grandparent’s movement and took advantage of her grandparents’ absence to carry out the dastardly mission.

This had been lingered on until the situation assumed a different dimension on the 2^nd of February 2020 when the victim took a bold step to confide in someone, who later enlightened and informed the grandparents of the victim of structures available for the protection of fundamental rights for no cost.

Following this development, it was gathered that the suspect was arrested and arraigned before Justice Adesayo of the Magistrate court 2 in Ilesha, Osun state.  The alleged rapist however pleaded not guilty.

Reacting to the development, the Legal Aid Officer of the JDPMC; Barrister Onoja Veronica assured Nigerians, most importantly the family of the Victim that Justice would not be perverted but rather duly served as the Organization was committed to the case and had channeled the matter to the appropriate quarters for necessary actions.

“It has become obvious that some people are enemies of the future of our community because they have made it their goal to destroy the proper development of children who are our future. Hence, all hands must be on deck to protect our children (especially our girls) from these bad elements by teaching our children basic protection strategies and speaking out against such persons. On the part of JDPMC, we shall ensure justice is done and the perpetrator punished accordingly,” She affirmed.

Meanwhile case has been adjourned to 21^st of May, 2020.