Odion Edigin, an Edo resident, has urged Nigerians to prevail on the Nigeria Police and the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to charge a suspected paedophile, Patrick Ihowa, to court for alleged sexual assault of his 10-year-old daughter.
He alleged that since his 10-year-old daughter was defiled on September 25, 2021, in Ogheghe town, Upper Siluko Road, Egor Local Government Area of the state, Ihowa has been arrested by the DPP, and the Nigeria Police have been delaying the arraignment of the arrested suspect in court.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City, the Edo state capital, Edigin said the suspect was apprehended through the collaborative effort of a group known as the Nigeria Crime Hunters and Nigeria Police at his younger brother’s residence in Uteh Community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area on October 2.
“My 10-year-old daughter, who is a primary four pupil at about 8.30 pm on September 25, 2021, raised the alarm that Patrick Ihowa has defiled her. When I rushed out to find out what happened, I saw bloodstains in her pant. Before I could call on neighbours for help, Ihowa escaped.
“All efforts to apprehend him proved abortive. I then contacted the Edo State Police Command, and I was to report the case at Ogida Police Division on the same day, which I did.
“When I discovered that Ogida police response was slow, I called on Nigerian Crime Hunters at Egor, and Ihowa was arrested in Uteh and brought to Ogida Police Station from where he was transferred to the Family Unit section of the State Criminal Investigation Department.
“Consequently, an IPO was assigned to follow up on the investigation and thereafter taken to the Department of Public Prosecution.
“As we speak, today is November 3rd 2021, the case is still at the DPP for over two weeks now, according to the IPO. I do not know why DPP is now delaying this case from being charged to court for trial.”
The victim’s father also claimed that he rejected financial incentives from unnamed individuals not to press charges against the suspect.
He noted that the case was later transferred to the Family Unit section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation with the test results that were conducted at Vivian medical Centre in Oredo Local Government Area while alleging that he has been met by different lawyers to name his price for settlement.
“I feel worried because I know that Ihowa is making efforts to stop his trial and prosecution. For some time now, several persons had approached me to plead on his behalf not to go to court. But, what I need is justice.
“The medical report from Vivian Medical Center that showed that the man actually defiled my daughter is out. All the receipts are available too,” Edigin said.
He further appealed to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his wife, including human rights organizations, to assist him in defending his daughter, whose rights had been violated.
