Man 45, impregnates 13 year old girl, claims he has parental consent to marry her

Emmanuel Vincent

A man who hails from Imo state has been arrested by men of the police force from the Ajangbadi  Police Station for sexually abusing and impregnating a minor, who he claims is his lover.


The man, Victor Emmanuel 45, was arrested for having sexual intercourse with a 13 year old girl.

The police who were alerted by the girl's school  of her pregnancy described the girl as a minor  who was raped by Mr Victor Emmanuel.

Emmanuel refuted the allegations made against him saying  he was in a relationship with the girl, hence he didn't not rape her.

He declared he was aware of the girl's pregnancy and he accepts his responsibility.
Emmanuel said he was planing to marry her with her parent's consent as he had started the marital rites.

He claimed he had taken drinks and paid the girl's parents the sum of  20,000 naira as part of the traditional marriage rites for her bride price.

“I didn’t rape her! We are in a relationship.

“We’re even planning to get married. We have been dating for eight months now.

“The girl’s parents know me. Yes, I know she’s pregnant for me. I have accepted the pregnancy and

I’m already taking care of her.

“I have started the marriage rites. In fact, the girl’s parents had been collecting money from me. I have paid N20,000 to them for introduction and to buy drinks. They have also asked me to bring N100,000, out of which I have paid N64,000” said Emmanuel.

Child marriages have raised a lot of dust in Nigeria in the last few years, with prominent Nigerians like Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Emir of Kaduna amongst a host of others kicking against it.

The Nigerian Constitution does not stipulate marriageable age, but the Child Rights Act passed in 2003 section 21 considers a person below the age of 18 years a child.

It sets marriageable age at 18 years and inputs a penalty of violation.

“In line with the above, any person below 18 is not ‘marriageable’ by law as he/she is incapable of contracting a valid marriage. Any such marriage is a nullity, and a penalty of 500,000 Naira (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), a fine or five years imprisonment or both, await any parent, guardian or any person who facilitates such marriages.

The law leaves the states with the duty of enacting and implementing the law under its legislative powers.

This makes the law subject to cultural and religious stance the state(s) may project; consequently varying the terms of the law across different states.

Only a few states have enacted this law and Lagos is one of such states?

Would the parents of this 13 year old girl be made to face the law? Seeing they are alleged culprits together with Mr. Vincent Emmanuel. The police are investigating the case.