One month after Saturday Punch reported the case of a 16-year-old sexual abuse victim, who was impregnated by her guardian, her brother has been arrested for stealing the N480,000 paid for the care of the baby involved.
The victim, Gloria (not real name), gave birth to a baby boy in September, alleging that a family friend whom she was living with aftershe was brought from her hometown of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, sexually assaulted her many years until she eventually
became pregnant.The culprit, 33-year-old trader, Ugochukwu Okparanta, had admitted that he actually slept with the girl and promised to be responsible for the child’s upkeep.
Okparanta had earlier begged for mercy and paid an agreed N480,000 meant to take care of the child to the girl’s family.
Child rights activist, Mrs. Esther Ogwu, who had reported the case at the Office of Public Defender in Lagos, said the money, which was meant to be a one-year care payment, was to be put in an account through an arrangement by the OPD.
“The money was paid into the account of the victim’s brother and I expressly told him not to touch a dime of it until OPD decides the best course of action. But I was shocked that not even up to a month, he can no longer account for the money,” she said.
The girl had complained to Ogwu that she had been starving in her brother’s house despite the money paid for the upkeep of her child and herself.
Gloria’s brother, Obi, told our correspondent that he had used the money for a cooperative contribution.
The OPD officials handling the case immediately ordered his arrest.
The Divisional Police Officer at the Iponri, Surulere division, Mr. Olubumo Ogedengbe, said Obi’s action constituted stealing.
“You behaved like an accomplice of the man who impregnated the girl by your greed,” he told Obi.
The DPO said Obi would be released on bail as soon as the money was returned.
