I WILL COMMIT SUICIDE IF ISLAMIC CLERIC WHO RAPED ME ESCAPE JUSTICE, 16 YEAR OLD VICTIM TELLS COURT

“He deflowered me and the deed done cannot be undone. They should allow the court to decide, else I will kill myself”, the victim emphasized, just as findings showed that members of the victim’s family share dissenting views on the proposed settlement.

Penpushing further reports that, as at the time of filing this reports some family members were of the opinion that the out-of-court settlement is a welcomed development, and in contrary some declared that the matter should be treated as a criminal case and justice should prevail.

The Islamic Cleric (popularly known as Al-Edewy) allegedly raped the teenage student of his Islamic School in Ede town of Osun State, and was subsequently arraigned in court, while during the trial, he did not deny sleeping with the girl but claimed he had married her a day before the first rape incident.

Penpushing also reports that the accused could not provide any evidence of marriage, while the victim and her family debunked the marriage claims, hence the Islamic Cleric was arraigned on  3-count charge of ‘kidnapping’ the underage girl; ‘unlawfully taking her away against the will of her parents, with intent to carnally know her’; and ‘unlawful and indecent assault by touching her breast’.

The Magistrate of the Court sitting in Ede, Justice A.A Olowolagba in her ruling on Friday, adjourned to August 21 for a report of a settlement; otherwise, it would be opened for hearing, and in swift response the victim’s counsel, Abdulrasheed Maisolati, said the accused is in best position to decide his own fate. .

“We are not under any pressure. The only person that can withdraw the case according to the law is the nominal complainant, which is the girl in question. Right from the point of arraignment, we have hoped for a settlement out of court.

‘When the accused reached out to us for the terms of the settlement, we presented them but thinking he is smart, they rejected it. He thinks he can use coercion by involving some members of the family. Now with the adjournment, they have agreed to go with our terms with slight modification from our end”, the lawyer said