FINALLY COURT REMANDS LAWYER WHO ALLEGEDLY ABUSED 11 YEAR OLD HOUSE HELP IN ANAMBRA

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, sitting at the Chief Magistrate Court, Awka, Anambra State has remanded a lawyer, Adachukwu Okafor, in police custody for allegedly brutalizing an 11 years old girl living with her.

The suspect had been accused of using sharp objects to injure the girl’s private part because she failed to do some domestic chores assigned to her.

She had a day earlier appeared before the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, and claimed that the girl only injured herself while trying to run away from being flogged.

Mrs. Okafor was arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, Awka, on a-two count charge, mainly, willful infliction of physical injuries on the body of one Happiness Nwafor, an offence punishable under Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 2017.

The charge was read and interpreted to the defendant to the satisfaction of the Court; and the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Application for bail on her behalf by her lawyer, Chijioke Nwankwo, was turned down by the Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe who adjourned the matter until February 28, 2024 for ruling.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, said while she was confident that the court would do justice to the matter, noted that the ministry would soon embark on media programme to educate the people about the dangers and negative consequences of child abuse.

Recall that the suspect had previously been declared wanted by the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, and a bounty of N2 million placed on her, before she later turned herself in at a police station in Awka.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU