CHILD ABUSE: "OUR SOCIETY SHOULDN'T BE SUCH THAT CONDONES ABUSE OR VIOLATION OF THE VULNERABLES, JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED " - ENUGU DEPUTY MINORITY LEADER, ENEH SAYS AS SHE VISITS MAID BRUTALIZED BY ONITSHA FEMALE LAWYER
CHILD ABUSE: "OUR SOCIETY SHOULDN'T BE SUCH THAT CONDONES ABUSE OR VIOLATION OF THE VULNERABLES, JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED" - ENUGU DEPUTY MINORITY LEADER, ENEH SAYS AS SHE VISITS MAID BRUTALIZED BY ONITSHA FEMALE LAWYER
Published by JANE-CARESTV, Thursday February 8, 2024.
The Deputy Minority leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly and Member representing Awgu North Constituency, Rt. Hon. Mrs Jane Eneh (JP), has called on the Anambra state commissioner of police, CP Aderemi Adeoye to intensify efforts in manhunt and prosecution of Mrs Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor, now at large who assaulted her 11-year-old maid with a hot-iron and knife.
In a call to the CP, the deputy minority leader described the violent abuse of Happiness Nwafor, a child live-in maid, by her guardian at GRA Onitsha, as pure act of "child abuse, infliction of grievous bodily harm and inhuman treatment."
Describing the minor as an Awgu daughter, whose mother, Mrs Nwanneka hails from umuanugwo village in Enugu-owelli but married to Mr Monday Nwafor from oye ukwu in Orie Awgu, the lawmaker said that her office is ready to collaborate with the police in ensuring that the victim gets justice.
The deputy minority leader made this call while speaking with JANE-CARESTV on Wednesday, February 7, shortly after her visit to the hospital, where the victim is currently receiving medical attention.
Interacting with the little girl, the hospital management and representative of the wife of the Anambra State governor, the deputy minority leader was made to know that the wife of the Anambra State governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo had been up and doing with the feeding and hospital bills (such as procedures and tests, as well as medicines and supplies), since Happiness and her aunt came to the hospital.
Narrating her ordeal in the hands of her guardian, the little girl told the deputy minority leader that on the fateful day the incidence happened, while she was bathing her madam's little son, on getting to the lower part of the boy's body to sponge his buttock and pen*s, her guardian got infuriated and used the hot-iron she was using to iron her children's school uniform to stamp her face. When she jumped up crying for pains, the woman on sensing that her neighbours may be hearing her loud cry, tied her two hands up, pushed her into the toilet and locked her there. On continuing her cries there in the toilet, her guardian came the second time to use the same hot iron and a kitchen knife in designing her legs and body. Speaking further, the little girl also stated that she was kept there for two days without any food or water. It was on the third day that her guardian on seeing her weak and dying, opened the door and bundled her into her car back to her aunt's place, Mrs Ifeoma Muoghalu who is living at Nkpor, the little girl narrated.
Crying and expressing sadness over the present condition of the girl, the deputy minority leader said, "Mrs Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor who visibly violated the young girl left in her custody is among one out of many who do not deserve a place amongst decent humanity in our society."
Touched by the stories narrated to her by the little girl, Mrs Eneh proceeded to the Onitsha residence of Mrs Okafor at Akpaka, 33 G.R.A, for an unsolicited visit as the said woman's telephone line had been constantly switched-off. But on reaching the residence, Mrs Eneh saw a deserted house. The neighbours around explained to her that Mrs Okafor and her family had since gone into hiding after the unspeakable incidence.
Calling on the CP to invoke the law on "Child's Right Act (2003) and Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act (2017)" which has long been domesticated in Anambra together with other laws, in giving justice to the little girl, Mrs Eneh said this will serve as a stern warning to all abusers of any kind.
"It is very disheartening to hear that Mrs Adachukwu Cukelu-Okafor, a lawyer, a woman pastor and a mother of three, with all her knowledge in law and moral teachings in church, could descend so low to act in such a manner to a little girl she took in as a maid on the 5th of January, 2024 (barely two weeks of her stay in her house)," Mrs Eneh laments.
"Where then is the integrity in the legal profession and the christian calling that our society envisages, judging from the woman's anyhowness?" Mrs Eneh queries.
"Appreciating the wife of the Anambra state governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo, wife of the Enugu state governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, Anambra State commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, Enugu State commissioner for children, gender affairs and social development, Mrs Ngozi Enih and the general public for their love, efforts and financial support so far in putting smiles on the girl's face, Mrs Eneh appeals to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to weigh the pros and cons of this barbaric act as a matter of necessity, and withdraw its license to Mrs Okafor, as her action is capable of dainting the image of the profession. The head of the church, where she pastors, should also, as a matter of conscience, strip off any pastoral obligation on her as her character is not worthy of one who mounts the pulpit," Eneh suggests.
Thanking the good people of Owelli-court for their efforts in rallying around the little girl during this period of her stay in the hospital, Mrs Eneh advises parents to be wary of guardians they entrust their children into their custody, as considerations of child's age and human temperaments matters a lot.
#OkolikeMichael
Media Assistant to the Deputy Minority leader ENHA.
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