A Nigerian lawyer, Adachukwu Okafor has been remanded in the custody of the State Criminal and Investigative Department for allegedly brutalizing her 11-year-old housekeeper.
The order for her remand was given by the Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State.
Mrs. Okafor, of Chris Igwilo Street Akakpa GRA, 3-3 Onitsha, Anambra State, was arraigned before the court on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, on a two-count charge, primarily, willfully infliction of physical injuries on the body of one Happiness Nwafor, an offense punishable under Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 2017.
She reportedly used knives and other dangerous things to injure the minor.
The accused surrendered herself to police after the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, placed a N2 million reward on her.
The court was satisfied with how the charge was read and conveyed to the defendant. She pleaded not guilty to all the allegations.
The defendant council, Chijioke Nwankwo, submitted a bail motion, which the court dismissed.
The case was postponed until February 28th, 2024 for a decision. When questioned why it took his client so long to report to the police, the defendant council’s Barr Chijioke Nwankwo told journalists following the court session that he was unaware of any bounty set on Adachukwu.
He claimed that he was only approached for the task and that he promptly reported the defendant to the police.
Nwankwo, on the other hand, protested angrily that the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare is already conducting trials by ordeal, which he believes is detrimental to the case.
The victim had been discharged from the hospital and appeared in court.
In response to the development, Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon. Ify Obinabo, remarked that she trusts the court to do justice in the situation.
Obinabo plans to educate ndị Anambra about the dangers and bad repercussions of child maltreatment through a media sensitization campaign.
The Commissioner advised members of the public to avoid all sorts of social vices in society, particularly those that harm a child’s life and asked everyone to be good social change agents.
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