Father arrested for serially violating 6-yr-old daughter says ‘It’s a family affair’, attacks journalists

A middle-aged man, Agu Echezona Harrison, who was arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defiling his six-year-old daughter, yesterday attacked some journalists covering the proceeding.

Earlier before his arraignment, Harrison harassed some journalists who approached the state prosecutor to clarify an issue relating to another matter during a short recess.

On seeing Mathew Irinoye of Peoples Daily discussing with the prosecuting counsels, the defendant approached them and shouted, “what do you want? What are you writing? This is a family matter. Get away from there. If you write anything, I will sue you.”

After proceedings, as he was being taken to the cell by prison officials, Harrison attacked another journalist, Olamide Fadipe of Morning Daily by throwing his bottled water at her to prevent his photograph from being snapped.

Harrison was alleged to have defiled his daughter between 2013 and 2015 before he was caught at their 13, Omotosho Street, Isheri-Osun, Lagos residence.

State prosecuting counsel, Adebayo Haroun, told the court that the wife of the defendant reported the incident to the police station.

He said the mother reported that her daughter had been weeping between 2013 and 2015 and that she found the development strange.

She said it was two weeks after the last incident that her daughter opened up about what she had been going through in the hands of her father.

He said she reported to the police station in the area from where she (daughter) was taken to Mirabel Centre for tests, which confirmed her fears.

Harrison pleaded not guilty to the one count charge.

Defendant’s Counsel P.C. Ebiem pleaded with the Judge to allow the accused to continue to enjoy the bail terms earlier granted him by the magistrate court, saying that he has never missed a court sitting.

But Haroun opposed him and urged the court to remand him in prison custody.

He said incident of child rape and defilement is now rampant and that those involved should be made to pay dearly for such crime to deter others.

Justice Ogunsanya remanded Harrison in the custody of Kirikiri Maximum Prison and adjourned the matter till November 2.


NAN