By David Olalekan.
Mr Rufus Felix, the father of a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly defiled by a 67-year-old man, Shedrack Ejinwa in Rivers State last week, has maintained his stance on financial compensation rather than prosecution of the suspect.
The father of the girl, who spoke to newsmen in Port Harcourt after reportedly receiving N370,000 as part of a settlement agreement, was quoted as saying, “She’s my daughter, I have the right to decide what I want. My decision is also her decision.”
He added, “They are exposing my daughter to the world. I am not happy with people who took the matter to Facebook. This is my daughter, not any other person’s daughter.”
It was gathered that the 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside a hospital, Kendox Medical Services Ltd, in Port Harcourt by Mr Shedrack Ejinwa who was a patient in the facility.
The suspect was said to have purchased plantain chips from the victim on credit, before luring her into his hospital room where he had unlawful carnal knowledge of the teenager.
Mr Ejinwa was later arrested and detained by the police along with an official of the medical facility, following a petition from a human rights group, Behind Bars Initiative.
The suspect was reported to have settled the victim’s father with the sum of N370,000 as well as a documented agreement to foot monthly medical bills of the victim till a final medical examination in February 2020.
The signing of the agreement was supervised and allegedly encouraged by police officers at the police station.