Court remands pastor for defiling minor, procuring abortion

An Akure Magistrates’ Family Court has remanded a 55-year-old pastor of the Deeper Life Bible Church and school principal, Mr Adetunji Obatayo, for allegedly defiling a minor.

It was gathered that his victim, a 14-year-old student, got pregnant and he procured an abortion for her.

Obatayo was arraigned on three counts of defilement, and unlawfully prescribing drugs to procure abortion thereby killing an unborn child.

His pleas were, however, not taken.

He was said to have committed the offence sometime in February 2020 at Epinmi-Akoko, Akoko South-East local government area.

Police prosecutor, Folashade Adesuyi, informed the court that the defendant forcefully had carnal knowledge of the victim.

The offences, according to the charge, contravened sections 218, 230 and 328 of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

Adesuyi said that the victim’s confession led to the arrest of the defendant.

The victim, in her narration before the court, said she was placed under the guardian of Pastor Obatala by her parents when she was 10 years old.

She told the court that Pastor Obatayo had been having intercourse with her since then.

Presiding Magistrate, B.A. Alphonso, ordered the defendant remanded to the Olokuta Correctional Centre and directed the case file sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

The victim was ordered to be taken in for rehabilitation till further notice and the case was adjourned to August 29, 2024, for mention.