I Want To Marry You, Rapist Tells His Victim in Court

The presiding magistrate, counsels and observers in an ongoing rape case against one Samuel Godwin Effiong, a 23 years old man, were left gasping when the rapist made a shocking proposal to the 27 years old woman (names withheld) whom he had unlawful carnal knowledge of in the open court.

In a bid to “compensate” her for the trauma and disgrace, Samuel told his victim that he will marry her and take responsibility of the baby if she had gotten pregnant as a result of the rape. In his desperation to escape a term in jail, he said he’s also ready to make any form of settlement that is required of him.

Samuel was charged before an Oshodi Magistrate court for raping the said 27 years old woman under false pretense. He was said to have worn his elder brother’s military uniform and arrested the victim somewhere in Ikeja. But instead of taking her to the barracks as he claimed while arresting her, he took her to a secluded place in Mafoluku where he forcefully raped her. Luck however ran out on him when someone who suspected his movement alerted the police and he was immediately arrested.

Reacting to his 'proposal', Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo said: “The accused marriage proposal does not legalise the crime, though it all depends on the woman because once the woman drops the charge and says ‘I am no longer pursuing the case’ that will be the end of the case, as the prosecution needs the evidence of the woman to convict the man.”