Court Fines School Teacher For Impregnating Student

An Abuja Customary Court sitting at Jiwa, yesterday
ordered one William Thomas, a school teacher to pay N40,
000 as damages for impregnating a secondary school student
out of wedlock.
He was also ordered by the judge to pay a monthly
maintenance fee of N10, 000 for the baby's upkeep.
Thomas was arraigned following a complaint by the father
of the girl, who had accused him of unlawfully putting his
25 year-old daughter in the family way without parental
consent.
The girl's father said the action had jeopardized the
education of the girl, a secondary school student even as the
accused had abandoned her while she carried the pregnancy.
He said he had on two different occasions, with police
intervention, tried to end the relationship between the two
unsuccessfully, adding that he had also earlier taken the case
to court claiming N5m as damages. When the matter was
read to the accused, he pleaded guilty, and asked for
leniency.
In her ruling, Judge A'isha Muhammad, ordered the convict
to pay the sum of N20,000 to the lady for expenses incurred
during her pregnancy and another N20,000 for delivery.
She also ordered that he should pay an additional N10,000
monthly for the baby's upkeep for the next two years.