The victim
A middle-aged man, Ifeanyi Iwuji, has been quizzed by the police in Lagos for an alleged serial sexual harassment of a 10-year-old daughter of his neighbour.
It was learnt that Iwuji, who is a father of an eight-month old child, lives in a room and parlour apartment on Sule Street, Mangoro, Ikeja.
It was learnt that last Thursday, he sought the permission of the girl’s mother, Comfort, to send her on an errand. It was said that Iwuji did not send the girl anywhere, but locked her up in his bedroom.
It was gathered that Comfort, a teacher, who was having a private lesson with the girl before releasing her to run an errand for Iwuji, felt uneasy when her daughter did not return on time.
The development, it was learnt, made her approach Iwuji in his apartment to inquire about her daughter’s whereabouts.
Comfort told PUNCH Metro that she was shocked when Iwuji replied her from his bedroom that her daughter was not at his place despite that her (daughter) pair of slippers was at the entrance of his apartment.
She said, “When I called my daughter to return and finish up her home work, a voice from Iwuji’s apartment said my daughter was not there.
“I became worried and went to Iwuji’s apartment. I spotted my daughter’s slippers at the entrance, but surprisingly, Iwuji insisted that she was not at his place.
“I kept knocking on the door. Then I overheard him speaking in hushed tone. Later, my daughter walked out of his sitting room. I challenged him for lying to me, but he couldn’t give me a convincing answer, so I raised the alarm.’’
Comfort explained to our correspondent that she queried her daughter to know what transpired between her and Iwuyi only to be told that Iwuyi had been sexually harassing and abusing her.
She added that she promptly reported the matter at the Dopemu Police Division.
The 10-year-old girl told our correspondent that her sexual escapades with Iwuji started in June 2013. She explained that on Thursday, rather than give her money and send her on the errand, Iwuji led her into his bedroom and ordered her to take off her pants.
She said, “He asked me to take off my pants and gave me a cream to put on my private part like he used to do. Afterwards, he laid me on his bed, brought out his penis and started robbing it in front of my private part.
“He also used his hand to rob me on my laps. Then he wanted to kiss me but I was dodging it. When my mum started calling me, he stopped before he later asked me to go and meet her. He had been doing this thing with me since June.
“The first time he did it with me was one Tuesday in June. He bought me N10 corn flakes and also gave me N50. I don’t know the number of times we did it. Maybe 10 or 11 times and we usually did it when my mummy was not around.’’
Asked why she did not tell her parents about the incidents, the girl said, “I know that it is not a good thing but I was afraid that my mummy and daddy would beat me if I told them.’’
When our correspondent visited Iwuji’s apartment on Tuesday, he was said to have gone to work. However, when contacted on the telephone on Wednesday, he confirmed to our correspondent that he was indeed quizzed by the police over the development.
He said, “I was at the police station but the case had since been resolved and we were all asked to go. I don’t really have anything to say. I am not going to give them (his accusers) credit or discredit myself. Only God, who is in heaven, knows all and sees all.’’
But Comfort is crying foul over the present state of police investigations. She said the way and manner the police handled the case was unsatisfactory.
She said the Investigating Police Officer informed her on Wednesday that the case would be discontinued as she was going on her annual leave.
Comfort said, “The IPO called me and informed me that she had proceeded on her annual leave and that she was on her way to Enugu. She told me the matter wiould be reopened on September 12, when she resumes.
“This is by all standards unsatisfactory to me. I have not even seen the result of the medical examination conducted on my daughter as the officials who attended to me at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, said they were going to forward the report directly to the police.
“This is unfair and the life and future of my daughter is currently at stake here. What if his mission is fetish, the whole world should please help me out in this matter.’’
When our correspondent contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, she said she would get the details from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the station.
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