Absence of interpreter stalls trial of father charged for impregnating teenage daughter

Trial of 53-year-old farmer, Yesiru Onajobi, facing trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos, for allegedly impregnating his teenage daughter, was on Tuesday stalled following absence of a yoruba interpreter.
Yesterday's proceeding, which was for his plea to be taken, could not go on as the accused informed the court that he does not understand English and had no legal representation.

Onajobi, a resident of Bogije Street, Ibeju-Lekki, is being prosecuted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP).

When count one was read to the accused, he retorted in Pidgin, “I no understand.”

Subsequently, the trial judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, ordered that a Yoruba interpreter be provided for the accused on the next adjourned date to enable the court to take his plea.

Hassan consequently fixed re-arraignment of the accused for December19.

It would be recalled that Hassan took over the case following the transfer of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke before whom the farmer was arraigned on July 8, 2013

The farmer had pleaded not guilty before Aneke, who ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending his bail application.

The case was initially assigned to Justice Barbara Molokwu who was later transferred from the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
In the charge, the accused was accused of committing the offences in 2010.

The prosecutor, Mrs Halimat Balogun, had informed the court that after the death of his wife, the accused sexually assaulted his only daughter many times.

NAPTIP said that the accused intimidated and repeatedly had forceful carnal knowledge of his daughter, who eventually became pregnant for him.

The agency said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 13 (1) and 18 (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Act, 2003.