Incest: Absence Of Defence Lawyer Stalls Trial Of 50-Year-Old Father

Incest: Absence Of Defence Lawyer Stalls Trial Of 50-Year-Old Father

The on going trial of a 50-year-old man, Yesiru Onajobi, accused of allegedly having carnal knowledge of his 14-year-old daughter, was on Wednesday stalled due to the absence of his counsel.

Onajobi, who live at Bogije Street Ibeju, in Lekki area of Lagos State, was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) on a two-count charge.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Mrs Nora Eshiet, informed the court that there was still no legal representation for the accused.

A development that made the judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke to asked the accused if he understood the nature of the offence against him.

The accused replied that he understood the offence but that he could not afford the legal fees.

After listening to him, Justice Aneke then warned the accused that the court would proceed with the trial on the next date should he fail to get legal representation.

The court held, ``This case is further adjourned to March 5, for continuation of trial; it is a
criminal case and should be granted accelerated hearing. Trial will proceed if the accused fails to provide a legal representation at the next date".

The trial has suffered adjournments due to absence of a defence counsel.

The matter was heard before Justice Barbara Molokwo but later transferred to Aneke on July 8, 2013 following Molokwu’s retirement from the bench.

Although the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, Aneke ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prisons pending his bail application.

The prosecutor said the accused allegedly committed the offence in 2010.

Eshiet had told the court that after the death of Onaboji’s wife, the accused started to sexually assault his only daughter in his custody and got her pregnant.

Eshiet said the offence contravened the provisions of section 13 (1) and 18 (a) of the Trafficking in person (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Act, 2003.