Suspected rapist of 16-year-old mother arrested, begs for mercy

Thirty-three-year old Ugochukwu Okparanta, a trader who allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl living with him and got her pregnant, has been arrested by policemen from the Shasha Police Division, Akowonjo, Lagos. Saturday PUNCH’s report on the case on November 14, 2014 chronicled the account of 16- year-old Gloria (not real name) on a sexual abuse which she alleged took place over the course of four years when she was living with Okparanta. She eventually became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy in September. The trader was arrested following a report by the child rights activist handling the case, Mrs. Esther Ogwu, on Tuesday. He was released on bail the following day. Okparanta at his arrest begged the girl’s family for mercy, promising to take care of the young mother and her child. “Please, forgive me,” he said. “I admit that I am responsible for the pregnancy. But I can assure you that I will pay N40,000 every month to take care of the child.” Okparanta whose relations joined him in appealing for leniency, said what he did was truly bad but that they would ensure he takes full responsibility for the child and mother. Okparanta made a statement at the police station, He also signed an agreement that he would not default in paying the agreed money monthly. However, Ogwu, said the agreement he had signed with the police was not enough to let him off the hook. She said, “He still has a case to answer with the office of public defender. If he has signed an agreement at the police station, he still has to sign another at the OPD. “At the moment, we are concerned about the upkeep of the baby, but we cannot determine who would take custody of the child until OPD takes a decision on it. But I think the family of the girl are going to be in charge of the child for now.” The Divisional Crime Officer at Shasha, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the sum of N480,000, representing the agreed monetary support for the next one year had been paid to Gloria’s family. “That is their wish. Whatever was paid to the family has nothing to do with us. We would never handle any money on the family’s behalf. The family of the victim only called me on the phone to indicate that the man had paid for the next one year,” she said. Saturday PUNCH learnt that the police had decided to charge Okparanta to court but the family of the victim begged on behalf of the suspect to have the matter settled out of court. The OPD lawyer assigned to Gloria’s case, Mrs. Toun Akingboye, told our correspondent that whatever agreement reached with the police was not adequate. “If he has signed an undertaking with the police, he still needs to sign one in our office, which we will take to the court. That is to ensure that if he decides to default from whatever agreement is reached, he can be brought to book legally. “But at the moment, we will soon meet with both parties to ensure that the interest of the girl and her child is considered.