A Magistrates’ Court in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered the remand of Joel Monday, a private security guard, at a correctional facility for allegedly defiling, impregnating, and abusing a 16-year-old girl.
Monday was charged with offenses including unlawful sexual intercourse, physical abuse, and intimidation, in violation of Section 31(2) of the Ondo State Child Rights Law, which mandates life imprisonment for such crimes.
The victim, whose identity remains protected, recounted how her search for a better life brought her from Cross River State to Akure, where she allegedly became a victim of Monday’s abuse.
She also revealed that he administered pregnancy prevention pills to her after each encounter.
“I came to Akure because life was very hard for my family back home, and I wanted to assist my sick mother. My mother has five children and our father didn’t take care of us. So when a man called ‘White’ told me I could find better opportunities in Akure, I followed him,” she said.
She disclosed that she initially secured employment as a housemaid with one Mr David for a year and was promised ₦180,000 as salary. However, she was only paid ₦50,000.
“My mother had warned me not to stay longer than a year, but after being cheated, I couldn’t return home,” she said.
The teenager said that while searching for another job, she met Monday, who allegedly offered her accommodation and promised to help her secure better employment. However, that marked the beginning of her ordeal.
“He promised to get me a better job with higher pay, and since I had nowhere to stay, he offered to house me. That was when he started making sexual advances. I resisted several times, but he later started forcing himself on me. After every encounter, he would give me pregnancy prevention pills,” she narrated.
She revealed that Monday claimed to be a police officer and threatened her, saying no station would believe her story or arrest him.
The victim said she eventually got pregnant in August last year, and when Monday found out, he turned violent, calling her a prostitute and accusing her of ruining his plan to marry his fiancée.
“Due to his constant maltreatment, I confided in a woman on our street and told her everything. She advised me against abortion and took me to Emmanuel World Children’s Foundation, where I was cared for until I gave birth on April 30 this year,” she added.
Monday’s counsel, A. I. Musa, did not dispute the paternity of the baby, but appealed to the court to consider the welfare of the child and the teenage mother.
He said, “My lord, this court is not just a court of law but also a court of justice and a court of children. One party is a minor and the other a baby. “The child’s welfare must be prioritised. Since the defendant earns ₦150,000 monthly, he is ready to cater for the mother and child.”
However, the complainant’s counsel countered the plea, insisting that the accused should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The minor is hardworking and not wayward, which is why she came to Akure to work in the first place. If the court fails to punish the defendant, it may send the wrong message that justice is no longer obtainable,” the lawyer submitted.
Magistrate Grace Alphonso ruled that the minor and her baby be temporarily placed under the care of Emmanuel World Children’s Foundation until her family is traced and it is confirmed that her biological mother in Cross River State is capable of providing adequate care.
The magistrate also instructed that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review, with the original file retained at the registry of the State High Court.
The case was adjourned to July 31, 2025, for further proceedings.