An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has heard how a14-year-old girl (names withheld) died after allegedly being sexually assaulted by one Sunday Okonkwo from night till day break.

The victim’s mother (names withheld) gave the account in her testimony before Justice Abiola Soladoye.

The defendant is facing three- count charges bordering on defilement of a child, rape and involuntary manslaughter.

The court heard that the incident happened on March 3, 2024, at No. 70, Abalawa Street, Powerline Alagbado, Lagos.

Led in evidence by the prosecution, Adedotun Kazeem, the mother of the victim told the court that Sunday forcefully had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl and caused her injuries which resulted in profuse vaginal bleeding and other complications.

She said the victim suffered cardiorespiratory failure after the incident.

She said the tragic experience led to the victim’s death on April 9, 2024 at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

The victim’s mother, who testified with tears rolling down her cheeks, recalled that her daughter had called her after the incident.

She said when she asked what happened, the victim ended the call without narrating what happened.

She said she quickly travelled to Lagos to get treatment for her as she took ill.

On getting home, she met the victim in pain, crying and that she found it uncomfortable to sit.

When she asked the survivor what happened, she could not talk but kept crying.

The witness said during the night, the survivor started shouting and that when she asked her again what happened, the survivor said she would die if she disclosed what happened.

The mother told the court that the defendant had approached the victim with a job offer but that she refused.

So, the defendant went to meet her father who was down with a stroke.

She said the defendant kept on disturbing the father, that he would want to take the victim to the place of the job that night.

She said since it was about a job, the father consented and instructed the survivor to go with the defendant.

When they got to the place of the assumed job, the defendant opened a gate and instructed the survivor to go inside.

She said when the survivor questioned the defendant, he pushed her inside, adding that when the survivor attempted to shout, the defendant closed her mouth, and robbed something on her breast and vagina.

She said the defendant unlawfully had sexual intercourse with her until day break and after the evil act, he returned the survivor back to her residence.

According to the survivor’s mother, while they were at the

hospital, the victim was bleeding, going through excruciating pain, calling her name out, shaking and could not stand properly.

The mother took her to her private hospital, and then to the police station.

She said the development progressed to the involvement of a Human Rights group before the defendant was arrested and detained at the police station.

Justice Soladoye subsequently adjourned the trial until November 9, this year for continuation of trial. (The Nation, but headline rejigged)