NIGERIA: Filipino, Alex Fortaleza, 47, has landed himself in trouble after he allegedly raped a teenager who later became pregnant.

A company manager, who is a Filipino, Alex Fortaleza, 47, has landed himself in trouble after he allegedly raped a teenager who later became pregnant.

Alex was charged before a Family Court in Surulere, Lagos State for allegedly raping a 13-year old victim. The court ordered him to be remanded in Ikoyi prison, Lagos.

According to PMNews, the girl was a sister to the Filipino’s cleaner. The little girl usually followed the cleaner to Fortaleza’s house where she was allegedly raped.

After the act, Fortaleza pacified her with dollars. However, the deed blew open when the girl became pregnant.

Her sister cajoled her to know who did it. After persistent pressure, she confessed that the Filipino was responsible.

The victim’s sister reported the matter to the police at Area ‘B’ Command, Apapa, Lagos. The police arrested Fortaleze and took him to the station where he reportedly confessed that he actually had sex with her, claiming that he did not force her.

When asked about the victim’s age, he said that he did not know that she was under age because she has big boobs and buttocks.

The defendant was charged to a Family Court in Sururere where pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The matter has been adjourned till 24 May 2012.

Fortaleza was remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi, Lagos because nobody showed up to bail him. Meanwhile, his defence has been taken up by Barrister Bibele Dagogo of the Nigerian Legal Aids Council.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Saying he had sex with her five times. Nkechi, a native of Akwa Ibom State, recalled how the immoral act with Alex started. According to her, he first deflowered her in the bathroom before the ones that took place in his bedroom four times. She also disclosed how he enticed her with money before she fell for his bait, after resisting the temptation many times. 

She explained that he usually gave him N100 and sometimes, N1,000. “It was when he threatened to sack my elder sister from work and evict us from the house that I succumbed. He forced me the first day and succeeded in having sex with me. My sister was not at home that day. But Alex had earlier told her that he would send me to buy boiled rice for him at Anjorin Market, Apapa. It's not too far from his residence at Randle Road, Apapa. 

“I was living with my sister at the ‘Boys’ Quarter’. When I came back, I noticed he had locked all the windows and doors, leaving only the entrance door open. So, immediately I entered the house, he quickly locked the door. I wanted to wash clothes in the bathroom when he entered, tying towel round his waist.
“He warned that If I turned down his love overtures, he would sack my sister from work and send us out of the house. And I didn't want him to sack my sister or send us out of the house. I didn't want my sister and I to suffer,” she said.

The victim also recalled how blood gushed out from her private part when Alex first had sex with her. 
“He has caused problems for me now. I'm a JSS1 student, I cannot marry him, he is wicked. He forced me and had sex with me when my sister travelled to the village.” The girl believes she can still go back to school after putting to bed. “I will not go to the Philippines with him, I will not marry him. If I put to bed, I will go back to school. 

Alex begged the victim's family to allow him to take care of their feeding as well as hospital bill. But the family turned down the offer, saying the suspect was only looking for an opportunity to escape justice. Victoria, 23, told Daily Sun that Alex's contract as a canteen manager in a construction company was over. She said she suspected Alex to have concluded plans to escape before her younger sister is delivered of a baby. 

“Alex was paying me N12,000 monthly. My duty was to cook food, wash clothes and clean the house. He sacked me when I fell sick and asked me to pack my property out of the house. I was rushed to a General Hospital in Lagos, where I spent one week before I was taken to a church, where I also spent one week. And when I returned to continue my job, Alex told me I had been sacked. I've been working for him more than four years now.” 

Meanwhile, the suspect had invited some of his Nigerian friends to mediate in the crisis. One of them, a businessman, who identified himself simply as Kabaya, however, blamed the suspect for using a minor to satisfy his sexual urge 

"We just want to assist him so that his family and that of the suspect will reach an agreement. Since a child is involved, I believe, the best thing to do is to make peace because of the child. We don't want the victim and her baby to suffer", he said.