On Wednesday, a social worker, Rasheedat Sanusi, told the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court how a Lagos “bishop”, Felix Okon, defiled his 16-year-old daughter and another minor.

Mrs Sanusi testified at the commencement of Okon’s trial on a two-count charge of defilement.

Led in evidence by Peter Owolabi, the state counsel, Mrs Sanusi said that Mr Okon’s daughter told her that the “bishop” had been having sexual intercourse with her since August 2019 when she was on an extended vacation from school.

The witness also testified that the defendant ran a church at Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos State, where he resided.

She told the court that the other underage, also allegedly defiled by Mr Okon, was a church member’s daughter who also resided in the premises.

Mrs Sanusi said the bishop sexually assaulted his daughter after giving her a hot drink, the same day the victim noticed that the other minor, aged 14, was on her father’s bed.

The witness said the other girl had also confessed to the bishop’s daughter that Mr Okon had been sexually assaulting her since May 2018.

“The sexual abuse continued until January 2020, when the case was reported to their school counsellor,” the witness said.

She said that the defendant was subsequently arrested, adding that the case was transferred to the Gender Unit of the Ikeja Police Command.

During cross-examination of the witness, however, defence counsel, A. C. Maduemezia, told the court that her evidence was hearsay.

Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case until May 9 for the continuation of the trial.

Mr Okon faces a two-count charge of defilement, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.

(NAN)