An Ogun State-born ‘cleric,’ George Akinyele, was almost lynched by an angry mob for allegedly having carnal knowledge of an 8- year-old girl. However, Akinyele, who is said to be the shepherd in charge of one of the branches of a leading pentecostal church in the Ejigbo area of Lagos state, did not escape being beaten black and blue and paraded unclad, by the mob.
The victim’s father, known as Baba Akeem narrated how the unfortunate sexual knowledge of his little child began:“About a month ago, we were shocked when our daughter, Elizabeth complained of virginal pains, saying that she was sexually abused by ‘Baba’, the name she calls Akinleye the neighbourhood pastor.
Her descriptions of what transpired between her and Akinleye showed that she was actually raped.”
The father, who was visibly shocked and enraged, continued: “Angrily, I confronted the man. He accepted getting close to my daughter, but denied raping her; I knew he was lying. I almost got the Police involved, if not for the advice from neighbours to allow the sleeping dog lie.
Surprisingly, barely a month later, I came back home from work, only for my daughter to start demanding for the type of drug I gave her in the past when ‘Baba’ abused her. I asked her why she needs it, but to my shock, she said ‘Baba’ abused her again. That was how I raised the alarm and took my daughter to the nearest hospital, for medical examination and possible treatment.
This was after the hospital confirmed the abuse”, he alleged. Akinyele who refers to himself as the ‘Apostle of the Most High’ during his early morning sermons in he area, defended himself thus:
“We both live in the same environment, and the father is so close to me that sometimes I ask him for help which he always rendered. I’m innocent of this particular accusation-the recent one.
The first time I was accused of raping her, I had gone to their house where I met the little girl working on her school assignment. I offered to help her with the assignment which she gave me and I later returned it to her. I don’t know why nobody believed me, I didn’t have sex with that girl”, he exonerated himself. “This time around, she is saying that I ‘double crossed’ her at Somonu Animashaun Street and had sex with her again. How could I have done that? I wasn’t even at that area at the said time of the rape. Before God and man, I didn’t do anything to her this second time that I’m being accused.”
However following several threats, the preacher eventually admitted committing the ‘unholy act’ with the infant girl once. Confirming Elizabeth’s rape, the resident doctor of the hospital where she was treated disclosed that, “she was brought here by her father and I can confirm she is okay now. I’m just appalled by how the accused man was treated. If care was not taken, he could have been lynched.
I’m against jungle justice no matter the level of crime committed”, the doctor added. If not for the timely arrival of policemenattached to the Ejigbo police station, the alleged child rapist could have been lynched after the mob heard him admit to the heinous and dastardly act.
The doctor however disclosed that due to the victim’s twin ailments of ulcer and diabetes, he couldn’t be detained for long and was subsequently released by the police on medical grounds.