The Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, sitting at the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Awka, has remanded Mrs Adachukwu Okafor, at the State Criminal and Investigative Department Custody in Awka for allegedly inflicting physical injuries on the body of her eleven-year-old housekeeper in Onitsha.

 

Adachukwu Okafor who resides at Chris Igwilo Street Akpaka GRA, 3-3 Anambra State, was arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, Awka, yesterday on a-two count charge, which are willful infliction of physical injuries on the body of one Happiness Nwafor an offence punishable under Section four-one of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law 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.

 

Meanwhile, bail application made by the defendant council Chijioke Nwankwo was denied by the court and the matter was adjourned to 28th February, 2024 for ruling.

Speaking to journalists after the Court session, the defendant council Barrister Chijioke Nwankwo when asked why it took his client time to report to the police stated that he was not aware of any bounty placed on Adachukwu explaining that he was only contacted for the job of which he immediately took the defendant to the police immediately.

 

He complained bitterly that the state ministry of Women and Social Welfare is already doing trial by ordeal, which he noted is not in the best interest of the case.

The victim, an eleven-year-old survivor, had since been discharged from the hospital and made an appearance in court too.

 

Reacting to the news, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Anambra State, Mrs Ify Obinabo stated that she trusts the court to do justice to the matter.

 

The Women Affairs Commissioner also revealed that her Ministry will soon embark on media sensitization programme, during which Ndị Anambra will be educated and fully enlightened about the dangers and negative consequences of child abuse.