37-yr-old man arrested for taking 12-yr-old minor as wife

A 37-year-old man, identified as Michael Ugwu, has been arrested for taking a 12-year-old orphan (names withheld) as a wife.

Reports say the 12-year-old girl was given out in marriage by her grandfather, a native doctor in Enugu State identified as Abada.

Ugwu- a native of Aji in Enugu Ezike town, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, had reportedly gone to the Ipaja Police Division, Lagos to report that “his wife” had eloped and the police swung into action and the girl was later found through the help of one of Ugwu’s neighbours but the police officers who led the search were surprised to find out that the Ugwu’s wife is a minor.

A police source who pleaded anonymity threw more light on the case.

“He came and reported that his wife absconded and that he even took a loan from a bank to marry her. He even sounded drunk when he came to the station. When we saw the minor he called wife, we had to detain him to get more information, because a 12-year-old girl is not ripe for marriage, so we had to ask him more questions,” the source said.

Speaking from detention, Ugwu said the girls grandfather gave her out willingly after he told him over a drink that he needed a wife. Ugwu said he even had to take a loan of N200,000 to foot the bill of his marriage to the 12-year-old which was staged on the 20th of January, 2016.

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“Abada was happy I paid for his drinks, and he assured me he would introduce me to a girl. He said I might not be able to take care of a woman he wanted to give me but that he had another one for me. The following morning, I visited him with a friend of mine.

“He asked for N500 and I gave him. Around 10pm, he brought a girl to my house. I was about sleeping then. He said the girl he brought for me is his child and that he would want me to marry from their place. I asked if the girl is up to the right age, he said yes; that she was not a small girl. He said he needed to give the girl out in marriage so that she would not get unwanted pregnancy. I said okay.

“He brought the girl again the following morning. He asked that I shook hands with the girl and I did. He said I should not joke with the offer because someone else had even shown interest in the girl but that he wanted me to marry her. He said I should come with one carton each of beer and malt to ‘knock the door’ as the tradition demands. We call it ‘Omenala’. He gave me the list of items to buy for the introduction.”

Ugwu said the bank loan he took came in handy as he it used to buy a list of things and also to pay the girls dowry.

“During my first visit, I went with one carton of beer and malt each. During my second visit for the introduction, the items I bought, according to the list I was given, included a jar of palm wine worth N30,000, eight cartons of beer worth N16,000, two cartons of malt worth N3,000, amount spent on cooking to entertain the guests cost N11,000, two laps of pig meat worth N6,000, 30 kolanuts worth N2,800, two packets of cigarette worth N400 and dowry of N33,000. I was there with some of my family members.

“At the event, even though she didn’t give me wine as required traditionally and we didn’t put on same attire, Abada gave her to me and told us to kneel down and he prayed for us. He said he expected us to come back with children. The two times the girl was brought to my house and on the day of the introduction, she wore high heels, which made her look taller and mature.

“At that time, I didn’t see her as too young, and as our elders in the village supported it, I thought it was right. I am a heavy drinker, maybe that is why I was confused and the pressure from my people to get married made me to rush into it. Then, the girl’s grandfather is a herbalist, I don’t know whether he covered my eyes because now I regret my actions.
“I came back to Lagos with the girl in February. I think I was hypnotised for me to have taken that loan because now, my salary is being deducted monthly to pay back the loan.” Ugwu said.

Speaking on the case when contacted, spokesperson for the Lagos State Command, DSP Dolapo Badmus, said the command would swing into action as soon as it is briefed or when a formal report is made to the command on the matter.

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